The best ranked Croatian tennis player defeated first-seeded Canadian Miloš Raonić with 7-6 (3), 6-3 after two hours of play
This is the 17th tournament title for Čilić in his career, the first in 2017, extending his streak of winning at least one tournament annually to ten years. His first title came in New Haven in 2008. This is his second tournament title on clay, winning previously in Umag in 2012, as Jutarnji List reported on May 7, 2017.
This was the third duel of Čilić and Raonić and the second win by the Croat. In the first set neither player lost their service although both had opportunities. Čilić had his chance in the third game, but Raonić made an excellent first service. In the next game Čilić was facing three break points by the Canadian, but reacted great each time and managed to get out of that situation.
In the first five points of the tie-break neither player managed to win a point on their service, with Čilić coming out of that situation with a 3-2 advantage and going on to win the next three points and securing four set points, using the second to win the set.
After failing to secure a break in the second game of the second set, although he had three chances, as Raonić scored aces on each of them, Čilić made his only break in the fourth game of that set. Raonić made a double error, going on to miss a backhand, giving Čilić a great advantage. The next game was key.
When Čilić took the lead 4-1, there were no more chances to break the opponent’s service, with Čilić ending the match with an ace on his second match point.
