Former US Open champion Marin Cilic remains to be able to pulling off upsets! The 36-year-old ousted world no. 8 Alex de Minaur 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 within the first spherical of the ATP 500 occasion in Dubai. Thus, Cilic produced his first top-10 triumph for the reason that 2022 Roland Garros!
Marin missed the beginning of the season and kicked off the motion every week in the past in Doha. He fought effectively in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat. The Croat confronted one other rival from the highest in Dubai and emerged on the high for his first win of the season.
Marin and Alex sprayed 80 unforced errors! The extra skilled participant landed 27 winners and 48 unforced errors, lacking rather a lot from his backhand however lowering the rival’s firepower. De Minaur completed the match with 9 winners and over 30 errors!
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 25, 2025
The Croat hit extra service winners and adopted the rival’s tempo from the baseline to emerge as a deserved winner. Cilic saved 5 of seven break factors and used his probabilities with each palms. The veteran secured 4 breaks from as many alternatives and prevailed with a single return sport within the decider.
Marin made a livid begin. He secured a break at love within the first sport of the duel with a forehand winner and held within the subsequent one with an ace. The Croat stepped in on the return within the third sport and delivered one other break at love to increase the hole.
Marin Cilic & Alex de Minaur, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
Cilic survived deuces on serve in video games 4 and 6 and cast a 5-1 benefit. The 36-year-old served for the opener at 5-2 and landed a robust serve for a maintain at love and an early benefit in 36 minutes. Alex performed miles under his finest.
The Aussie sprayed a double fault within the third sport of the second set and fell a set and a break behind. Marin skilled the primary setback within the fourth sport, losing a 40-15 lead and touchdown a forehand extensive to undergo a break and convey his rival again to 2-2.
Alex de Minaur, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
The previous US Open winner needed to work laborious on serve within the sixth sport. Cilic saved three break factors with service winners and landed one other to deliver the sport dwelling and stay on the constructive aspect. Alex made one other push on the return in sport eight.
He transformed a break likelihood following a horrible forehand rive-volley from his rival and cast a 5-3 benefit. World no. 8 served for the set in sport 9 and held at 30 with a service winner, forcing a decider after an hour and 24 minutes.
Lacking his timing, Cilic despatched a backhand extensive at first of the ultimate set to supply his opponent a break likelihood. Alex missed a return and an opportunity to maneuver nearer to the end line. Marin served higher in video games three and 5 and made a push on the return at 3-2.
Marin Cilic, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
De Minaur wasted a sport level and sprayed a double fault to drop serve and fall 4-2 behind. The Aussie generated a break likelihood in sport seven and missed it with a free backhand. He netted a routine forehand and propelled Cilic 5-2 in entrance.
Alex closed the eighth sport after a deuce, and Marin served for the win at 5-3. The Croat landed a volley winner within the first level and generated a match level after an prolonged rally and the rival’s mistake.
Cilic landed a winner on the web, sealing the deal and incomes his largest win in nearly three years. Marin will face one other Aussie, Alexei Popyrin, within the second spherical.
