US Open Champion Marin Cilic Gives CNN Open Court An Interview
Marin Cilic has had an eventful year 2014. Beginning the year as 47th in the rankings following a four month ban for doping, Cilic went on to win the US Open against Nishikori, without losing a single set in the final, semi-final or quarter-finals.
In a personal interview with CNN’s Amanda Davies on ‘Open Court’, Cilic talks about his partnership with coach Goran Ivanisenovic, his home country Croatia’s reaction to his US Open win, and his ‘disappointing’ results in the ATP World Tour Finals in London last week.
ON CHOSING IVANISEVIC AS COACH:
“I think it was obvious decision and conversation. Goran was around me and my team before, and he was a close friend. When I stopped with Bob, Goran and I talked about whether he could help me or not. He felt I could improve a lot.”
ON THE BIGGEST THING IVANISEVIC HAS GIVEN HIM:
“Belief. I think that I am viable of making it to the top and being able to win the big events.”
ON HOW FOUR MONTHS AWAY CONTRIBUTED TO HIS SUCCESS IN 2014:
“Those four months were very tough, it was a difficult time but I learned a lot of things. I matured as a person and I became more specific with the priorities in my life and what I wanted to achieve in my career. I feel that the things I did last year, where I was working and preparing for the season, helped me to achieve what I achieved this year.”
ON HIS HOME COUNTRY’S REACTION TO HIS US OPEN WIN:
“I didn’t think it was going to mean that much but when I came back, I realized the extent of its effect on people. They were unbelievably proud and whoever I saw on the street was congratulating me. That was the satisfaction for me that I could – with my job and this achievement – make people so happy.”
ON HIS US OPEN TROPHY:
“The replica trophy still hasn’t come, believe it or not. It’s still being made in New York so hopefully it will arrive next week. It’s going to be at my apartment in Zagreb and I’m going to have to polish it – every day!”
View the CNN Open Court video here: VIDEO: http://cnn.it/1ueM1Sd