Croatia’s top tennis player, Marin Čilić, delivered a masterful performance to defeat Learner Tien 7–5, 7–6 in the opening round of the ATP Dallas Open.
The draw was far from kind to Čilić, pitting him against the 20-year-old American prodigy, the reigning Next Gen Finals champion and a recent Australian Open quarterfinalist, but the experienced Croatian prevailed in their first-ever official meeting.
Both players exchanged early breaks in the opening set, but Čilić struck at a crucial moment at 5–5. After falling behind 15–0 on Tien’s serve, the 21st-ranked player in the world won eight of the next nine points to close out the set and take the lead.
In the second set, Čilić broke for a 4–3 lead and consolidated it for 5–3, even holding a match point on Tien’s serve. The American saved it and later broke back to level at 5–5, but Čilić steadied himself in the tiebreak, sealing the win 7–4.
The Croatian veteran finished the match with 29 winners and 29 unforced errors, while Tien recorded 23 winners and 26 unforced errors. Both players fired nine aces apiece.
With this victory, Čilić recorded his 600th ATP career win, becoming Croatia’s all-time leader in ATP victories, surpassing Goran Ivanišević’s long-standing record of 599.
Currently ranked 61st in the world, Čilić continues his strong start to the season after reaching the third round of the Australian Open. He will next face the winner of the all-American clash between Trevor Svajda and Ethan Quinn.
