CROATIA'S NUMBER ONE TENNIS PLAYER MADE HIS WAY INTO THE
SEMIFINALS OF THE 22ND ATP STUDENA CROATIA OPEN WITH GREAT
STYLE
Čilić races past Seppi, two steps away from title
Marin Čilić will play the semifinals of ATP Studena Croatia Open
for the first time, after a convincing victory over Andreas Seppi
(6:1. 6:3) from Italy. Before him, and after the title victory by
Goran Prpić in the first tournament in 1990, only two Croatian
tennis players have reached the finals of out oldest tournament.
Ivan Ljubičić made it to the finals in 1999, and Željko Krajan in
2002.
-It was amazing. From the beginning until the end of the match. I positioned myself well and I didn't force my game. I found a balance between offense and defense, I was even surprised at how well I felt the ball. I build my confidence from my determination to play each point one hundred percent. I have no reason to doubt myself - stated Čilić after a very pleasing victory against Seppi where he lost only 12 points from his own serve. His games in Umag suggest that he will soon find his way back into the top 20 of the best tennis players in the world. Currently, he is number 31 on the list.
- Only 200 points separates me from the 20th seed. That jump can be made in a single week with a good result. My game is very pleasing at the moment, I'm getting back into shape - explained Čilić. His opponent in the Saturday's semifinals is tournament's sixth seed, Paolo Fognini (38.) from Italy, who lost only two games in the only match against Čilić in Monte Carlo 2009.
- Physically It will be a more demanding match than the one against Seppi. Fognini is one of the best defensive players in the Tour, and these conditions in Umag fit him very well, his game is quite predictable, but Fognini is different. I will have to do much more running against him, and I will have to do a lot more work on the court - predicted Marin.
The match between Čilić and Seppi will be played at 17:30, and after them (not before 20.00) title defender Juan Carlos Ferrero and tournament second seed Alexandr Dolgopolov will step onto the central court.
