Match report

Mardy Fish © Tennistalk.com
Pilot Pen Tennis
Final
8/24/08 1 2 3 Tot
us  Mardy Fish 4 6 2 1
hr  Marin Cilic 6 4 6 2
Marin Cilic © Tennistalk.com

  • Cilic heads to U.S. Open with New Haven title

    8/24/08 3:46 AM | Ricky Dimon
    Marin Cilic defeats Mardy Fish in three sets win the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament for his first ATP title. He will take invaluable positive momentum with him into next week's final Grand Slam of 2008.

    The future is now for Marin Cilic.

    Cilic, still just 19 years old but already ranked 31st in the world and climbing, survived Mardy Fish 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Saturday night in New Haven to capture the Pilot Pen title. It took Cilic one hour and 54 minutes to grab his first ATP trophy.

    Cilic burst out of the gates not looking at all like a youngster competing in his first ATP final. The 6'6'' Croat broke Fish in the opening game of the match and that held up in the first set as the American never could break back. Cilic fired five aces, lost only six points in five service games, and did not face a single break point.

    Fish returned the favor in set two, breaking in his opponent's first service game. That gave the No. 8 seed a 2-0 lead, which he held until serving for the set at 5-3. Fish squandered three break points, including one in which he dumped a backhand volley in the net off a Cilic shot that was going well wide. Nevertheless, Fish broke right back to level the match at one set apiece.

    Breaks continued to be the name of the game at the start of the final frame of play. Cilic cracked several winning forehands to jump out to a quick advantage, but he promptly got tight and donated the break right back to Fish. Right on cue, a fifth straight break--dating back to the second set--went to Cilic. Finally the big man put an end to the madness and held for 3-1. From there, he never looked back. A frustrated Fish saw his game deteriorate and he never recovered physically or mentally to make it competitive the rest of the way. Cilic broke again for 5-2 and he closed out the week in style, winning his first ATP title with a huge ace down the middle at 40-15.

    The win should give Cilic unparalleled confidence heading into the U.S. Open, which begins on Monday. He will play Julien Benneteau in the first round and could face No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic in the third.

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