Cilic draws strength from adversity

Croatian primed for another shot at Federer in Aussie Open final

MELBOURNE－Marin Cilic has experienced the highs and lows of playing in a Grand Slam final and is primed to be at his physical best for Sunday's Australian Open decider against Roger Federer.

The world No 6 is the first Croatian man or woman to appear in the final at Melbourne Park as he guns for his second major title.

Cilic's career high point so far has been his victory at the 2014 US Open where, as the 14th seed, he swept Federer in straight sets on the way to beating Kei Nishikori in the Flushing Meadows final.

But he was in tears when he gamely played on with a nasty blister on his left foot in last year's Wimbledon decider against Federer.

Another opportunity to win a Grand Slam has quickly materialized early in 2018, with the superstar Swiss again waiting for him.

Cilic got there by beating injured top seed Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals and rising British star Kyle Edmund in the semis.

On Friday he said he's in a good space for Sunday's final, with his serve and forehand working at optimum in the year's opening Grand Slam.

"I'm feeling really good physically, even though I had a few matches that went more than three hours," Cilic said.

"I've played a great tournament so far; I've improved compared to the end of last year. I'm playing much more aggressive, hitting most the shots really good.

"From the return, moving, forehand, backhand, serving, I think everything is in a good, solid spot. I'm feeling really excited about the final."

That's in marked contrast to Wimbledon last July, when he wept inconsolably on Centre Court during the second set after calling for medical attention for his blistered foot.

"It was very tough emotionally because I know how much I went through in the last few months in preparation for Wimbledon," he said.

Cilic said his bittersweet Slam experience has fortified him for Sunday.

"I had to go through one amazing experience in a final and one not so amazing. So I had both emotionally great and not great," he said.

"I think it's going to help me to stay focused on what I have to do."

Cilic's game has evolved down the years through the coaching of Bob Brett, Goran Ivanisevic, Jonas Bjorkman to current mentor Ivan Cinkus.

He serves big－his fastest serve in Melbourne is 215 km/h (180mph)－and he has a total of 107 aces over six matches, winning an excellent 82 percent of first serve points while dropping serve only nine times.

"I think overall I'm playing better. The (2014) US Open was just amazing tennis for me," he said. "But it was more difficult for me to maintain it for a long period of time.

"Now I feel that with this kind of tennis I can keep it throughout the season, and that's my goal."

                                                                        AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE