Former US Open champion Marin Cilic is still capable of pulling off upsets! The 36-year-old ousted world no. 8 Alex de Minaur 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the ATP 500 event in Dubai. Thus, Cilic produced his first top-10 triumph since the 2022 Roland Garros!
Marin missed the start of the season and kicked off the action a week ago in Doha. He fought well against Carlos Alcaraz in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat. The Croat faced another rival from the top in Dubai and emerged at the top for his first win of the season.
Marin and Alex sprayed 80 unforced errors! The more experienced player landed 27 winners and 48 unforced errors, missing a lot from his backhand but reducing the rival’s firepower. De Minaur finished the match with nine winners and over 30 mistakes!
Upset alert 🚨@cilic_marin takes out No.2 seed De Minaur 6-2 3-6 6-3 in Dubai 🤯#DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/isxXAh0qLN
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 25, 2025
The Croat hit more service winners and followed the rival’s pace from the baseline to emerge as a deserved winner. Cilic saved five of seven break points and used his chances with both hands. The veteran secured four breaks from as many opportunities and prevailed with a single return game in the decider.
Marin made a furious start. He secured a break at love in the first game of the duel with a forehand winner and held in the next one with an ace. The Croat stepped in on the return in the third game and delivered another break at love to extend the gap.
Marin Cilic & Alex de Minaur, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
Cilic survived deuces on serve in games four and six and forged a 5-1 advantage. The 36-year-old served for the opener at 5-2 and landed a powerful serve for a hold at love and an early advantage in 36 minutes. Alex played miles below his best.
The Aussie sprayed a double fault in the third game of the second set and fell a set and a break behind. Marin experienced the first setback in the fourth game, wasting a 40-15 lead and landing a forehand wide to suffer a break and bring his rival back to 2-2.
Alex de Minaur, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
The former US Open winner had to work hard on serve in the sixth game. Cilic saved three break points with service winners and landed another to bring the game home and remain on the positive side. Alex made another push on the return in game eight.
He converted a break chance following a terrible forehand rive-volley from his rival and forged a 5-3 advantage. World no. 8 served for the set in game nine and held at 30 with a service winner, forcing a decider after an hour and 24 minutes.
Missing his timing, Cilic sent a backhand wide at the beginning of the final set to offer his opponent a break chance. Alex missed a return and a chance to move closer to the finish line. Marin served better in games three and five and made a push on the return at 3-2.
Marin Cilic, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
De Minaur wasted a game point and sprayed a double fault to drop serve and fall 4-2 behind. The Aussie generated a break chance in game seven and missed it with a loose backhand. He netted a routine forehand and propelled Cilic 5-2 in front.
Alex closed the eighth game after a deuce, and Marin served for the win at 5-3. The Croat landed a volley winner in the first point and generated a match point after an extended rally and the rival’s mistake.
Cilic landed a winner at the net, sealing the deal and earning his biggest win in almost three years. Marin will face another Aussie, Alexei Popyrin, in the second round.
Tennis World USA