INTERVIEW: Marin Cilic - Winding road back to grand slam glory

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  • Marin Cilic is hoping to turn his season around in France.

    Time often flies on the tennis circuit and it’s hard to believe that Marin Cilic won the US Open a mere eight months ago.

    A lot has happened to the Croatian since then. One day he’s reading the Top Ten list on The Late Show with David Letterman after a stunning run to the US Open title, the next he’s coming back to the tour after a four-month absence nursing a shoulder injury.

    The world No10 has won back-to-back matches just once in the six tournaments he’s played in since his return – at Indian Wells in March – and comes to Paris looking to find his rhythm more than anything else.

    “Physically I’m feeling really good,” says Cilic, who has played just 10 matches in total since the ATP World Tour Finals last November. “The last six weeks or so I’m not feeling any pain in my arm that was causing trouble at the beginning of the season. 

    “I’ve had five tournaments on clay, there were some ups and downs. Of course I would have liked to have had a few more matches coming into the French Open, but I’m still very positive.

    “Looking at years back at the French Open, I’ve always played pretty well here, so that’s another good sign for me. With more matches I’m going to gain more confidence and that will prove to be for me, at this moment, the most crucial part which I’m looking forward to get.”

    Although it was a physical problem that kept Cilic away from the game, it is the lack of tennis instinct that is keeping him from finding his form – the kind of form that saw him beat Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori back-to-back to become a grand slam champion.

    “I think it’s more the tennis part, the thing that usually you’re doing automatically, you’re not thinking about them, you play instinctively, suddenly they start to become more in your thought process, you’re thinking what to do, is that right, is that not right? Which decision to take? For some players they adapt to that much easier than some other ones. For me I require more matches. So that’s the most difficult part,” explains the 26-year-old.

    “I was injured. That pulled me back a little bit and in tennis it’s a very sensitive area when you go one step back, it always requires more time to come back to the point where you were with form. For the players, you get back to form by winning matches.

    “So that’s for me the first focus. I’m not feeling that the game is not there, that I lost it or that I can’t re-create it again. It’s a matter of still being focused and still looking to play well in matches and I think things will go well.”

    For the past decade, every player in the men’s locker room has known that in order to win the French Open, they would probably have to beat Rafael Nadal to do it. Only one man has defeated the Spaniard in 10 years in Paris – Robin Soderling – and it gave way to Federer clinching the title in 2009.

    This year Nadal has had a questionable build-up to the French Open, by the Mallorcan’s incredibly-high standards, and is seeded No6 – his lowest-ever seeding here.

    Do the men in the locker room feel they have a bigger chance of winning the title than in previous seaons?

    “Yes and no,” Cilic answers. “You never know with Rafa. When he plays here, it was similar last year.

    “Novak beat him in Monte Carlo and in Rome, Rafa was also down with Nishikori in Madrid but then when he played here, he played a great match with Novak and it was a great tournament. 

    “This year, the balls are a bit slower than last year, heavier. I don’t know who that’s going to suit more. I know Rafa likes that the ball jumps more but I feel the ball isn’t jumping the same, it’s not flying the same as last year, so it could be more difficult for him. You can’t sign him off but of course the other players have more confidence.”

    Cilic’s best showing in Paris was reaching the fourth round in 2009 and 2010. Despite being short on match play, the Monte Carlo-resident feels a couple of matches could put him in the frame for a deep run at Roland Garros.

    “It’s a long way to go (to the title),” he says. “Games on clay are a bit different than all the other surfaces. For me, the most important part is the feeling on the court. If I’m feeling really well on the court then on all surfaces and at all tournaments I’m very sure in myself and confident that I can beat the best guys.

    “Here last year I had a really tough match with Novak Djokovic (lost a four-setter in the third round), we played an interesting match so that gives me confidence that I can play well on clay too. 

    “For me, it can change very quickly in terms of game and feeling on the court. If I win a couple of matches, I already feel much better on the court. That was a similar thing at the US Open. The first couple of rounds I was playing well but I was just looking for some wins and then suddenly after a few matches the game just clicks and it’s working perfectly. So I believe it can happen here the same. We’ll see.”

    His first test comes against Dutchman Robin Haase – a player he leads 3-0 head-to-head.

    “We played once here before (in 2008). I’ve known Robin since juniors,” he adds. 

    “He’s a very dangerous player. He can adapt his style of play when he plays different guys. So it’s not easy to play against him. But again for me it’s a good challenge for the first round and I have to be focused and completely ready to start.”

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