Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Marin Cilic Dominates Kei Nishikori to Win First Major at U.S. Open
NEW YORK — Marin Cilic played the U.S. Open final like he had an important dinner reservation in midtown.
Utilizing a massive serve and flat, powerful groundstrokes that he stroked to every corner of the court, the 6-foot-6 Croatian destroyed Japanese sensation Kei Nishikori, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, in just 1 hour, 54 minutes to capture his first Grand Slam title.
Cilic, 25, became the first Croatian to win a major title since his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, won Wimbledon in 2001.
Cilic double-faulted on the first of three match points, but then smacked a backhand winner into the open court on the second before falling down on his back in celebration. He then made his way into his players’ box where he hugged his entourage, including Ivanisevic.
“Everything I was working for and dreaming came [true] today and I feel for all the other players that are working, I think this is a big sign and big hope that if you’re working hard, things are going to pay off,” said Cilic, who had lost five of his seven previous encounters with Nishikori.
Click here for the full story on Metro.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
NEW YORK — Marin Cilic played the U.S. Open final like he had an important dinner reservation in midtown.
Utilizing a massive serve and flat, powerful groundstrokes that he stroked to every corner of the court, the 6-foot-6 Croatian destroyed Japanese sensation Kei Nishikori, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, in just 1 hour, 54 minutes to capture his first Grand Slam title.
Cilic, 25, became the first Croatian to win a major title since his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, won Wimbledon in 2001.
Cilic double-faulted on the first of three match points, but then smacked a backhand winner into the open court on the second before falling down on his back in celebration. He then made his way into his players’ box where he hugged his entourage, including Ivanisevic.
“Everything I was working for and dreaming came [true] today and I feel for all the other players that are working, I think this is a big sign and big hope that if you’re working hard, things are going to pay off,” said Cilic, who had lost five of his seven previous encounters with Nishikori.
Click here for the full story on Metro.
