CILIC CRUISES TO FIRST UMAG TROPHY

Written by: Staff on 15th July 2012

CILIC CRUISES TO FIRST UMAG TROPHY

epa03292662 Marin Cilic of Croatia returns to Andy Murray of Britain during their fourth round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 02 July 2012. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/07/28/Umag-Sunday-Cilic-Triumphs-Over-Granollers.aspx)

Second seed Marin Cilic captured his second crown of the season on Sunday at the ATP Vegeta Croatia Open Umag, dismissing No. 4 seed Marcel Granollers 6-4, 6-2 to become the first home winner in Umag since 1990. He did not drop a set during his title run.

“It’s a real privilege to be among these champions,” Cilic said. “It was really special this week. I played great tennis and I was enjoying every moment in my matches. I’m really glad I won for my supporters, my team and myself.”

Granollers led 4-2 in the first set before Cilic went on a torrid stretch, winning nine consecutive games. The World No. 15 capitalised on five of his seven break points and won 51 per cent of his return points to claim victory at the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court event in one hour and 32 minutes. With the win, Cilic has defeated the Spaniard in five of their six FedEx ATP Head 2 Head meetings.

“Marcel is a really dangerous player, so it was not easy in the beginning. He was playing really well and not giving me too much,” said Cilic. “After I found some solutions, I kept with him and played great tennis. It was maybe my best match of the week. I had a streak of winning nine games in a row, so that was amazing. It helped me to relax and know that I was on the right path.”

The 23-year-old Croat improved to an 8-7 final record. He celebrated his third triumph on home soil, adding to the back-to-back titles he claimed at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors in 2009 and 2010. In June, he lifted his first grass-court trophy at the AEGON Championships in London.

Granollers was bidding to win his first title of the year and dropped to 3-2 in ATP World Tour title matches.

“I think Marin was much better than me. He played a very good match,” said Granollers. “I was up 4-2 in the first set but I did not close out the set. Marin started to play better and better. The second set, I didn’t know how to win a point. I congratulate him on how he played.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, ATP Vegeta Croatia Open, Marcel Granollers, Marin Cilic, Sports, Umag tennis news