Considering he had little or no form going into this year’s French Open, Croatia’s Marin Čilić must be on cloud nine right now.
At 33 years of age, it’s fair to say that time isn’t on his side.
But he produced a virtuoso performance to beat world number two Daniil Medvedev and seal his place in the quarter-finals.
Having won the US Open, Davis Cup, and a featured regular in the men’s top 10, Čilić has had a good career.
Yet he still wants to keep going!
And boy did he do that against Medvedev.
The former Wimbledon and Australian Open finalist completely dismantled his opponent 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, without facing a single break point.
He had previously beaten a potentially tough banana skin in Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in four sets.
The only set he has dropped thus far.
Showing his confidence and expertise on the surface.
A straight sets demolition of home hope Gilles Simon followed so Čilić has been fairly solid at this year’s tournament.
Therefore, he must be considered a serious dark-horse for the title.
Quarter-Final Showdown
But will Andriy Rublev prove too strong?
Quite possibly.
He is the younger player and is clearly capable on all surfaces.
But Čilić will have NOTHING to lose.
The Croatian’s ferocious serve and big-hitting from the baseline can cause a problem for any opponent.
It just takes Rublev to have an off day and Čilić to sense that, and produce another stellar performance.
WHO WINS?
Downing Medvedev in straight sets was no doubt Čilić’s best performance in years, certainly at a Grand Slam.
But Rublev is a big step up.
He is in better form than his countryman and hasn’t had the injury issues Medvedev had coming into the championships.
The head says Rublev in four, but the heart hopes that Čilić has more tennis magic in him.
