Čilić is following in Prpić's footsteps

CROATIA'S NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER FOUGHT HIS WAY TO THE 22ND ATP STUDENA CROATIA OPEN ON SUNDAY

Čilić is following in Prpić's footsteps, will play for his sixth career title tonight

Marin Čilić will be playing in the finals of the 22^nd Studena Croaatia Open. After 21 years and a title by Goran Prpić at the first tournament edition, a Croatian tennis player is in a position to win the crown in Umag. Croatia's best player has defeated the best Italian tennis player Fabio Fognini with a convincing 6:2, 6:2.

The reason for defeat? It's simple, he played well, and I played very bad. I had a few chances, a break point in the first set to lower the score to 3:2, I led with 2:0 in the second set but the lead didn't last long. I just wasn't feeling it, my serve was very inconsistent - said the displeased Fognini after the match, as he remains without a finals appearance in his career. Up til now he played in six ATP semifinals and lost all of them.

-Everything was working perfectly during the match. In key situations I played exactly the way I wanted - controlled and aggressive. I entered the match knowing what I wanted to do - said Marin who found his form in the best possible time.

- I haven't played this well continually since last year. What's the secret? In general, I feel much better when I play on home court, I have a much better approach and I'm much more responsible - explained Marin after winning his tenth career semifinals match. He has won five titles, the last one was Zagreb Indoors last year, almost 18 months ago.

His opponent in the title match will be tournament's second seed Alexandr Dolgopolov who defeated the title defender Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semifinals - 6:4, 6:4. This is the second ATP final for the Ukrainian, he played his first one in Costa do Sauipe where he lost to Almagro.

I played well and made the right decisions in the match. I managed to break his rhythm and successfully avoided lengthy exchanges from the base line. Before my arrival to Umag I had four defeats in a row, I was a little nervous in the beginning of the week, but I'm playing better every match - stated Dolgopolov. About his match with Čilić he said:

It's going to be a difficult match. He has a great serve and holds the ball really well from the base line. I have to impose my own game, be as aggressive as possible and break his rhythm with short balls as often as I can - announced Dolgopolov.