February 01, 2010

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He may be the youngest player ranked in the Top 100 on the ATP World Tour, but 21-year-old Marin Cilic is competing like a seasoned veteran, while players, fans and media have no choice but to appreciate his quick rise to fame. Of course Canadian fans have seen what Cilic can offer. He reached the quarter-finals of Rogers Cup two years ago in Toronto.

His global coming out party over the past two weeks in Melbourne, which included a career-best semifinal appearance at a Grand Slam, was filled with monster victories. As the No. 14 seed, Cilic knocked off Fabrice Santoro, Bernard Tomic and the other Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the opening rounds before his big meeting against reigning U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, who many picked to go deep into this tournament. The calm and cool Croatian disposed of Del Potro in a marathon four-and-a-half-hour, five-set match 5-7, 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.

"It wasn't easy to play him,” said the six-foot-six Cilic. “I had to stay all the time really focused. I think the good thing that kept me in there was my serve. I think that was one key thing that I did well. I just kept my focus till the end of the match, as I knew that I was going to at least get one shot to break him. Today I felt really good physically, and that in the end was the main difference."

His reward for winning was a date with Wimbledon finalist and former No. 1 Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals. The match was a mental test for both individuals just as much as it was a physical sport battle. After taking the first two sets, Cilic experienced the determination of Roddick, who stormed back, despite a nerve problem. The two quickly found themselves in a fifth set. Consecutive fiver-setters against Grand Slam winners will make a player grow up pretty quickly. Cilic was able to come out on top and earned lots of respect from Roddick, who was quick to praise his young opponent.

“There is a lot to like about him,” Roddick said.

Cilic became the first Croatian to advance to the final four of the Australian Open and while he couldn’t get past the great Scot, Andy Murray, he has erased the tab up-and-comer and is now simply a threat every time he steps on the court.

With him the entire tournament was his coach, the legendary Bob Brett. The Australian coach, who currently works with Tennis Canada to develop young talent, has had an eye for tennis greatness over his illustrious career. Brett guided Boris Becker during his reign as No. 1 and a man Cilic grew up admiring, fellow Croat and the only wildcard Wimbledon champion, Goran Ivanesevic. It was Ivanesevic who recommended to Cilic that he should move to San Remo and work with the coaching icon.

“It’s been rewarding to see Marin succeed in Melbourne,” said Brett following Cilic’s quarter-final win Down Under. “He has worked hard, possesses so many weapons and owns a calm demeanor which will serve him well throughout the pressures of tennis.”

If the first month of 2010, which included a Tour title in Chennai, is any indication of the future for Cilic, fans around the world are going to hear a lot from this gentle giant.