Marin Cilic is again to the Challenger successful circuit after almost 18 years! The 36-year-old Croat conquered the Giron Challenger on clay, lifting his third Challenger title and the primary since Could 2007! Thus, the previous Main champion secured a notable document.
Cilic’s almost 18-year span between two Challenger titles surpassed Andy Murray’s document. The Briton conquered Aptos in 2005 and lifted his subsequent trophy in Aix-en-Provence 17 years and eight months later. Marin can be the second oldest Croatian with the Challenger title after Ivo Karlovic.
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Marin performed effectively in Girona. He prevailed towards world no. 90 Marton Fucsovics within the second spherical and dropped one set in 5 encounters to elevate a trophy in model. The 21-year-old Dane Elmer Moller stood on the opposite aspect of the web within the title conflict.
The veteran scored a 6-3, 6-4 victory in an hour and 43 minutes, lifting his third Challenger trophy and leaving the younger gun on a 1-4 rating within the Challenger finals. Marin served at 54% and drew probably the most from that after defending eight break factors, seven within the opening set.
Marin Cilic, 2025 Girona Challenger© X – Diputació de Girona
Marin claimed 40% of the return factors and offered two breaks from 4 alternatives, stealing the rival’s serve as soon as in every set to emerge on the high. They served effectively within the opening 5 video games, with Cilic firing a service winner for a maintain at love within the fifth.
Moller wasted two recreation factors in recreation six and missed a forehand on a break level to expertise a break and fall 4-2 behind. Marin confronted the last word problem within the seventh recreation when he confronted six break factors! The veteran denied them and held for 5-2.
Elmer Moller & Marin Cilic, 2025 Girona Challenger© Stream screenshot
Elmer served to remain within the set in recreation eight and confronted a set level. He saved it with a service winner and held to increase the battle. Cilic served for the opener at 5-3 and wasted three recreation factors. The Croat netted a routine forehand and supplied the Dane a break probability.
The 36-year-old denied it with an unreturned serve and seized the fifth set level with a smash winner for 6-3 in 54 minutes. Marin offered 4 comfy maintain within the second set and grabbed a break that despatched him in entrance.
Marin Cilic, 2025 Girona Challenger© Stream screenshot
The veteran held after a deuce within the fourth recreation and made a push on the return within the subsequent one. Moller hit a pricey double fault on a break level, experiencing a break and falling 3-2 behind. Cilic cemented the break with a service winner in recreation six.
He held for 5-3 and generated a match level on the return within the subsequent one after Elmer’s backhand error. The younger gun saved it with a pressured error and held for extra drama. Marin served for his first title at this degree in almost 18 years at 5-4.
The Croat hit a wayward second serve and confronted the one break level of the set! Cilic denied it with a strong serve and landed one other for a match level. Marin seized it with a forehand crosscourt winner, sealing the deal in model and lifting a trophy.
