ATP

Marin Cilic – 10th of November 2014

Published

9 years ago

10/11/2014

TENNIS ATP FINALS 2014 – Novak Djokovic d. Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-1. Group A

Ubaldo Scanagatta. Can you try to explain to us what happens when a champion of the US Open comes, plays, loses 6 1, 6 1 in 56 minutes? Today, another player, Berdych, the same thing. It’s difficult for us to explain it to the readers. Can you give us a clue?

MARIN CILIC: Well, I mean, from my own side, it’s also first time being here. Also I felt that Novak played really, really solid today. In some matches, the score just keeps running. You are sinking a lot. You are, you know, always trying to find something. But whatever you try, it’s not working.

That’s what I felt today. I felt a little bit uncomfortable on the court, rusty. In some situations where I felt I was, you know, having a chance to get in the score. Also in the beginning of the second set where I broke back to come back to level the score, you know, played pretty sloppy service game.

In some situations, you know, the score just goes, and it’s difficult to stop it.

Q. You mentioned rust. How did you find the conditions on the court? Are they conditions that you like?

MARIN CILIC: Yeah, I felt conditions are you know, it’s medium paced court. It’s difficult to get the ball past the opponent. I mean, especially Novak. I didn’t have too many winners today.

Also he was able to, you know, dictate the rallies. He was also able to return very well. That was a difficult part for my game to get some advantages at the beginning of the points.

You know, when we are at the rallies, Novak starts to dictate, he’s always in a much better position. So that was, you know, a difficult part for me to get out of.

Considering the court, it’s, I mean, a solid court, but you have to be able to, you know, keep the ball away from the opponent. If you are hitting the ball well, it’s going to pay off.

But today I felt that I was not hitting it clean. That’s always difficult, especially against Novak, to get away with a win when you’re not playing so good.

Q. When you’re in a situation like that and you’re trying and trying to get back into a match, what is actually going through your mind? Are you looking for a big hole just to crawl into? How are you reacting mentally during a match like that?

MARIN CILIC: Well, even though the game wasn’t working, I tried to play, let’s say, the right way, to try to go for the shots. When I had the ball, to go for it. Even though I was not making it, I knew if I was going to be too passive, it’s going to be difficult to win rallies with him.

That’s a difficult part, you know, that you are not succeeding in that situations, and you don’t have too many options. I could have, of course, changed it up a little bit more, to come in with the serve a little bit more.

But we had a long game in 2 1 when I lost my serve. You know, after that everything was pretty much late.

Q. A lot of players have talked about the difficulty of coming in and playing a top player in the first match at an event like this. What about the feeling of going on the court, your first time here? Did you feel nerves? Was it overwhelming? You played Novak pretty close this year. Today wasn’t so close.

MARIN CILIC: Yeah, I felt pretty relaxed, not too nervous, coming into the court. I felt at the beginning I wasn’t playing so well. Novak got that lead at the beginning, I felt I want to get myself going. But, you know, the game was not pushing me to do it. So I had to make something up. But just wasn’t coming.

That’s difficult. You are, you know, trying to find some openings which is not happening. It was difficult also for me to, you know, be more pumped up or to win few more points with that kind of sensation.

Most of the time I was a lot behind in the score.

Q. For your next opponent, Tomas Berdych, are you friends? How do you see him as a player or a person?

MARIN CILIC: Yeah, we are I would say friends. We get along pretty well. Tomas is that kind of guy that he’s getting along well with everybody on the tour.

And, yeah, as a person, I think he’s a very nice guy, of course. We played, you know, few times this year. Most of those matches were pretty important. It was the finals at Rotterdam, twice at the Grand Slams, now again here. For both of us, is definitely the most important match now in the group. Whoever wins is going to have a chance to go through.

Yeah, I think it’s going to be both have to play better than today.

Q. How do you handle coming from this sort of match? What adjustment do you have to make to this format?

MARIN CILIC: Just have to stay positive with your body, not to let those things get into you.

You know, there are two more matches. Luckily this is the first one where I played bad. I mean, still there is opportunity to go through. That’s a positive part of it.

Ubaldo Scanagatta. A great server like you who doesn’t win one serve in the second set, are you more angry, more sad, or more embarrassed?

MARIN CILIC: No, none of those (smiling).

I didn’t have the rhythm on my serve that I wanted. Novak was covering the court really well. Even in some situations where I was getting my serve in, he was able to return it well. That was, you know, another difficult task for me to bring up my game.

But serve is going to work probably hopefully from tomorrow.

Related Topics:ATP Finals Marin Cilic Novak Djokovic

Up Next

Novak Djokovic- 10th of November 2014

Don't Miss

Tomas Berdych – 10th of November 2014

Click to comment

ATP

Rafael Nadal To Play Laver Cup In Berlin

Published

3 days ago

22/04/2024

Adam Addicott

Rafael Nadal has eased speculation that he might be retiring from the sport soon after signing on to play in the Laver Cup later this year.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is the latest player to join the line-up for this year’s team competition which features Europe taking on the rest of the world over three days. It will be Nadal’s fourth appearance in the competition and his first since 2022. He competed in the inaugural edition of the event back in 2017 alongside co-founder Roger Federer.

“I am very happy to be playing Laver Cup in Berlin for Team Europe,” Nadal said in a press release. “I have some really special memories from my Laver Cup experiences, including all the emotions from London two years ago playing alongside Roger for the last time.”

Nadal’s decision to play comes amid questions about his future in the sport. The former world No.1 has previously indicated that this year could be his last on the Tour but he has stated that no decision has been made. In recent months he has been sidelined from action due to injury setbacks and has only been able to play in two tournaments so far this year.

“At this stage in my career I really want to go out there and make the most of every opportunity I am given,” he explains.
“Teaming up is always an incredible experience and I have always enjoyed it, the competition is different and exciting. I’m looking forward to going to Berlin and helping Team Europe win back the Laver Cup.”

Other European players confirmed to be playing are Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul have agreed to play for Team World. This year’s event will be held in Belin at the Uber Arena between September 20-22.

The Laver Cup was inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup. It was co-founded by Federer’s Team8 management company (which he formed with agent Tony Godsick), businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann and Tennis Australia. In 2019 it became an official ATP sanction event and now has a place on the official calendar.

Nadal is set to return to competitive action at the Madrid Masters which he has won on five previous occasions. He has been drawn to play teenage wild card Darwin Blanch in the first round. If he wins, Nadal will then play Alex de Minaur who knocked him out of the Barcelona Open last week.

ATP

Carlos Alcaraz In Doubt For Madrid Open Title Defence

Published

1 week ago

16/04/2024

Adam Addicott

Carlos Alcaraz admits that he is not certain if he will be ready in time to play at next week’s Madrid Masters.

The 20-year-old is yet to play a clay tournament in Europe due to a forearm injury which ruled him out of both Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He hurt his right arm whilst training shortly before the Monte Carlo event began.

It is the latest in a series of injury issues that has affected Alcaraz throughout his young career. Since the start of 2023, he has also been derailed by issues with his abdominal, hamstring, post-traumatic arthritis in his left hand and muscular discomfort in his spine.

“My feeling isn’t right, but it is what it is. Now I’m fully focused on recovery and I have a little more time,” Alcaraz told reporters in Barcelona on Monday.
“My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain. I was given specific recovery times and I’ve respected them, but I haven’t felt good. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
“I can’t say I’ll be 100% in Madrid, but that’s my intention. We’ll train and do everything we can so that the feelings improve so I can play a match … It’s also a very special tournament for me.”

Alcaraz has won the past two editions of the Madrid Open, which is classed as a Masters 1000 event. In 2022 he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final and then 12 months later he beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the title match.

The setback comes after what has been a steady start to the year for Alcaraz who has reached the quarter-finals or better in four out of five tournaments played. He successfully defended his title in Indian Wells and then reached the semi-finals in Miami.

Should he not play in Madrid, it is likely that the Spaniard will lose his No.2 spot to Jannik Sinner who is just over 100 points behind him in the standings. He will still have the chance to play a clay-court event before the French Open with Rome taking place early next month.

ATP

Olympic Qualification Is Not the Only Goal For French Veteran Gael Monfils

Published

2 weeks ago

10/04/2024

Adam Addicott

Gael Monfils (image via https://twitter.com/atptour)

Gael Monfils admits he doesn’t have too many years left on the Tour but this doesn’t mean his targets are any less ambitious.

The 37-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise up the rankings over the past 12 months following battles with injury. At his lowest, he was ranked 394th last May but is now in 40th position. As a result, he is closing on securing a place in the Olympic Games which is being held in his home country of France for the first time since 1924. The tennis event will be staged at Roland Garros.

“When I was 400, I was thinking the Olympics would be great, but it’s going to be tough,” Monfils told reporters on Tuesday.
“There are younger players playing well. If I don’t qualify, I don’t mind. It will just mean I’m very close to the ranking I want to be. That ranking will allow me to find another goal.”

Monfils is already a three-time Olympian but has never won a medal at the event. He reached the quarter-finals of the singles tournament twice in 2008 and 2016.

Another goal of Frenchmen is the Wimbledon championships which concludes just three weeks before the Olympics begin. The proximity of these tournaments will be a challenge to all players who will be going from playing on clay to grass and then back to clay again.

“I really want to go and play Wimbledon. I don’t have so many Wimbledons to play in the future. The Olympics is one goal, not the only goal.” Monfils states.
“My dream is of course to be part of the Olympics. I played three times at the Olympics. I’d like to be there again. But I also really want to do well in Wimbledon this year. To reach my goal, it has to be including Wimbledon.” He added.

Monfils is currently playing at the Monte Carlo Masters where he beat Aleksandar Vukic in his opening match. In the next round, he will take on Daniil Medvedev in what will be their first meeting since 2022. He leads their head-to-head 2-1.

Medvedev has openly spoken about his roller-coaster relationship with playing on the clay. He admits it is not his favourite surface but how much of a factor could this be in his upcoming clash with Monfils?

“Of course, it’s not his favourite one, but he’s still Daniil Medvedev, and whatever the surface, it’s always very complicated to play him,” Monfils concludes.