Cilic hammers 17 aces in winning first major
September 8, 2014
New York, USA — HEAD Racquet Rebel Marin Cilic was the incredible winner of the 2014 US Open, defeating Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in the final. The Croatian’s performance was unbelievable during the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, especially when he beat 2nd seed Roger Federer in the semis.
Marin Cilic, who endorses the HEAD Graphene Prestige, took less than two hours to claim the 300th win of his career. “This came from a lot of hard work, especially over the last year,” said Cilic. Guiding the 25 year old was another HEAD ace from the past, Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon Champion who is now Cilic’s coach. “My team, especially Goran, has brought something special to my game. The most important thing was the joy of tennis, going out and always having fun,” Cilic revealed.
The 2014 US Open Champion Cilic lifted the trophy with 17 aces and 35 winners, breaking five times and saving eight of the nine break points he faced. “I’ve enjoyed my tennis so much here, I think I played the best of my life,” said the delighted Croatian.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic missed the 2014 US Open final as runner up Nishikori defeated him 4-6, 6-1, 6-7(4), 3-6. Fellow HEAD player Andy Murray, who endorses the HEAD Graphene Radical, lost to Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-7(1), 6-2, 6-4 in a HEAD-to-HEAD quarter-final battle.
China’s Peng Shuai was another sensation of the tournament. On her way to the semi-finals she did not lose a single set and beat No. 4 seeded Agnieszka Radwanska. Unfortunately in the semi-finals she had to quit at 6-7(1), 3-4 due to heat exhaustion against Caroline Wozniacki.
In the mixed-doubles, HEAD Racquet Rebel Abigail Spears (USA), who recommends the HEAD Graphene Instinct, and partner Santiago Gonzales (Mexico) lost the final in the match tie-break against No. 1 seeded Sania Mirza (India) and Bruno Soares (Brazil).
Another triumph was captured by HEAD player Andy Lapthorne from the United Kingdom in the Wheelchair Quad Singles competition. In the final he defeated Wagner (USA) in two sets.