CILIC AND GOFFIN CONTINUE LONDON QUEST, THIEM STILL AT RISK FOLLOWING PARIS LOSS TO SOCK BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 2nd November 2016

BNP Paribas 2016 Masters Tennis Tournament

CILIC AND GOFFIN CONTINUE LONDON QUEST, THIEM STILL AT RISK FOLLOWING PARIS LOSS TO SOCK BY RICKY DIMON

epa05613881 David Goffin of Belgium returns the ball to Nicolas Mahut of France during their second round match for the BNP Paribas 2016 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 02 November 2016. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

David Goffin of Belgium returns the ball to Nicolas Mahut of France during their second round match for the BNP Paribas 2016 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 02 November 2016. EPA/IAN LANGSDON

Marin Cilic maintained his fine form with a 7-6(7), 6-2 victory over Ivo Karlovic in the second round of the BNP Paribas Masters on Wednesday afternoon. Cilic held all 10 of his service games to prevail in one hour and 33 minutes. With the win, the 10th-ranked Croat took another giant step toward qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Croatia’s Marin Cilic in action during his final match against Japan’s Kei Nishikori at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 30 October 2016. EPA/ALEXANDRA WEY

Cilic’s season reached a high point with a title at the Cincinnati Masters and he moved into an all-import top eight spot in the race just last week by triumphing at the Swiss Indoors Basel. With one more victory this week, Cilic would clinch a spot in London unless Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Roberto Bautista Agut wins the title and Tomas Berdych finishes runner-up. He would also pass Dominic Thiem for seventh place because Thiem lost to Jack Sock 6-2, 6-4.

“I’m really excited and satisfied with my form, especially these past few months,” Cili commented. “I’ve been trying for a long time to find that consistency at the big tournaments. That was a goal of mine at the beginning of the season, so I’m just hoping to continue with good tennis here and make it to London.”

A showdown with huge London implications is now on tap for Cilic, as he will go up against David Goffin on Thursday. Goffin kept his chances alive by taking care of Nicolas Mahut 7-6(5), 6-3 during second-round action on Wednesday.

“I’m just focused on what I have to do and I’ll play match by match,” Goffin explained. “I can feel that it’s the end of the season and it’s never easy when you feel a little bit tired. But it’s a big tournament and my goal is to finish the season without any regrets. I’m just going to give everything until the end.”

Goffin not only must win this match but he also has to reach at least the final and may even have to win the title depending on other results. The Belgian is actually a significant reason why Cilic has not already mathematically secured a spot in the year-end championship. Goffin is 3-0 lifetime against Cilic and all three wins have come in 2016, including two with major points on the line. Goffin, who also defeated Cilic in a Davis Cup opening-round tie, got the job done 7-6(4), 6-2 in the Indian Wells quarterfinals and 7-5, 6-4 earlier this fall in the Tokyo semifinals.

“David has been playing very well this season,” Cilic assured. “We just played in Tokyo and it was a tough match. It’s a battle now between me, him, Berdych, and Tsonga. I’m just hoping to continue with my good tennis and find a good way to play him this time.”