January 24, 2020 – Marin Cilic has advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open after a dramatic victory over Roberto Bautista-Agut 6:7, 6:4, 6:0, 5:7 6:3.
After a 3-hour-and 37-minute match in the last round against Frenchman Benoit Paire, in which he secured the victory in the decisive tie-break of the fifth set, Marin has now played for four hours and 13 minutes against Bautista-Agut.
The first set was equal, although both players had one chance to break. However, Bautista-Agut was better in the thirteenth game, as he made the first mini-break at 2:2 and ultimately took the first set.
Cilic evened the score in the second set by taking Bautista-Agut’s serve at 6:4. It was evident then that the level of his game was rising – and then he exploded completely.
Marin played perhaps the best set we’d seen him play in ages; a set that reminded us of the Marin Cilic that won the 2014 US Open. Bautista-Agut was helpless in the third set when Cilic swept him 6:0.
Cilic’s momentum fell slightly in the fourth set. While he led 3:1, Bautista-Agut returned for 3:2. The key break was made at the 6:5 lead. The game then went into the fifth set, which was quite even, despite the Spaniard losing his serve again at the start.
Cilic had a psychological test in the lead at 4:3, and it seemed that Bautista-Agut could return to the match as he reached 0:30, but with great serves and winners, Cilic responded to the challenge and came to 5:3. In the next game, he finished the match on Bautista-Agut’s serve. Cilic failed to use the first match point, but ultimately celebrated the marathon victory with a roar.
Week 2⃣ FEELS!@cilic_marin gets his #AusOpen revenge knocking out No. 9 seed Bautista Agut 6-7(3) 6-4 6-0 5-7 6-3 in four hours and 10 minutes.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/Vh0XQmFGWw
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2020
In the round of 16, Cilic will play against the winner of the match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Milos Raonic.
Donna Vekic will play in the round of 16 on Saturday against Iga Świątek.
Source: Index.hr
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
