Top ranking pushes me to be mentally stronger: Marin Cilic ahead of Chennai Open
After a stellar 2016, Marin Cilic is eager to do better this season. Back at the Chennai Open after some years, the Croatian has a new coach by his side and the hunger to win bigger titles.
After a stellar 2016, Marin Cilic is eager to do better this season. Back at the Chennai Open after some years, the Croatian has a new coach by his side and the hunger to win bigger titles. In an email interview with HT, Cilic spoke his mind.
Excerpts:
Last year gave you your first Masters trophy and career-best ranking of six. How would you compare the season with 2014 when you won the US Open?
Cincinnati was a great tournament as I was playing very aggressively and serving in the same manner as well. When I’m doing that on court, I believe I have a good chance against all the players in the world.
My life changed after the US Open as people recognised me, given the media attention on tour and while I travelled. It brought a lot of obligations but I still had to dedicate time to rest and do physical work and have the motivation to push forward. The hunger has increased after the US Open to repeat the win at a Grand Slam in the new season.
You started the year at No 13 and ended at six. What was the aim for 2016 and did you manage to reach your target?
I was motivated to do well and it is a huge achievement to get that ranking of No 6. I am looking at the battle of No 1 definitely and it will be interesting to see how it is going to unfold.
How difficult is it to be a top-10 player and stay there?
It’s going to be great to start the season at such a high ranking. My goal going into the Chennai Open will be to reach the top 5 as there will be a lot of great players behind and ahead of me. My goal for 2017 will be to win another Grand Slam or maybe more. It is difficult but I believe in myself and will push myself.
You beat Novak Djokovic (Paris Masters quarters) and Andy Murray (Cincinnati final) in straight sets. How would you describe those two important matches?
It means a lot and has done wonders to my confidence. That I lost to Novak so many times in the past, it is going to help me face them again. In the ATP Masters 1000, it was a great hurdle and managing to beat him for the first time I felt a lot more confident going into the off-season. With these victories, I believe I can achieve more in 2017.
You have a new coach in Jonas Bjorkman. What does he bring to your game?
I joined Jonas in August and we’ve already started to work on a lot of things and achieved success. Everyone has a different understanding of the game and how to approach it tactically, which has been good for me and I’m enthusiastic how it’s going to pan out in the next season.
What are the aspects of your game that Bjorkman wants to focus on?
With a lot of victories by the end of the season, reaching the World Tour finals and the top 8 shows how much I have improved in such a short period of time.
You’re returning after two years, your thoughts on the Chennai Open.
Chennai brings back great memories as I started my ATP career here with the qualifying in 2007, and the two wins in 2009 and 2010. I’m hoping I can win in 2017 and continue my great tennis. I can see a few players in the entry list like Roberto Bautista Agut. He is an amazing player and played really well this season, made the final of Masters 1000 in Shanghai and is showing himself as a great prospect.
I guess Borna (Coric) is coming back. He has played a couple of years now in Chennai and is a great talent. We are going to see a lot of him over the years. I remember Rafa (Nadal) here in early days of his career. Even Carlos Moya was a significant name in the tournament.
Have you set a target for 2017?
First, the Chennai Open and then any Grand Slam. I will single out any one of the four as I just won one and I know it’s a great feeling.
What is your off-court regimen like?
During the season, I’m always trying to work as hard as I can on fitness. It’s not always easy to find things, like the gyms in the hotels while you’re on tour. But I pay a lot of attention to be in good shape. Running also helps you prevent injuries.
Other than tennis and humanitarian work, what keeps you busy?
I don’t have a specific hobby. It ranges from watching TV shows to reading books and I spend a lot of time on social network for staying in touch with friends, my girlfriend and close ones. I try to visit a lot of cities with my girlfriend wherever I am as it takes a toll when you’re on tour and have a repetitive schedule. It’s not easy to be on tour for so long, so you need things to keep your mind fresh and occupied.
You have won in Chennai twice, is there something that works for you here?
I enjoy it here as it’s the start of the season. Coming to Chennai means a big difference in temperature, but I was able to adapt in the past and definitely the conditions are not easy but I managed with good preparation in the off-season to start well. It’s very important to do well in the first week to get a few matches under your belt and go to Australia (Open) with that good form.
Do you recall any match or moment that became a milestone in your career?
One match that comes to mind is against Somdev (Devvarman) in 2009. It was a great run by Somdev to make the final and we played a great final and that was a great start to the year. I also played well in Australia and the indoor season in Europe, so it opened up a lot of opportunities for me during the year. Having won that title (in Chennai) gave me a lot of confidence.
Describe your toughest or best match here.
It would be against Stan (Wawrinka) in the (2010) final. We played for almost three hours on the court and it was an extremely difficult match physically and mentally. We both deserved to win but I managed to find a way to victory, so that was the toughest one.
You will be looking for a hat-trick, any special preparations?
Coming to a tournament where you are seeded at the top is always a little bit of extra pressure but I am used to that and I like it. It pushes me to be focused, be a little bit stronger mentally during the week. It’s important to open the season well and especially with a No 6 next to my name is something I am going to see during the year.
Is there any young talent, especially an Indian player whom you were impressed by during your two visits?
I would mention Yuki Bhambri. I know him for several years, since he came to the Bob Brett Tennis Academy in San Remo, where I was practicing. I followed his play and rise on the tour and was quite impressed. I hope he reaches his potential in the next few seasons.
Tell us about your childhood, especially about your years in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It was nice. Coming from a small city (Medjugorje) famous for its Catholic traditions, we get about one million pilgrims every year in our city. Religion has played a big part in my life since childhood. The decision to move to Zagreb was one of the toughest as I was just 14.
I started playing tennis when I was 7 and my country didn’t have a great tradition, especially my region. My father built a court and it was the start of a journey and it has been nice.
Your father wanted you and the siblings in sports. Tell us more about that part of your life.
My father wanted me and my brothers to go into sports as he was from a small town and did not have many options. Football and basketball were the most popular sports in our region but tennis was also catching up. My eldest brother played football, the second one played basketball. Me and my younger brother played tennis. It was great to have brothers who were into sports as we played different disciplines. Now, my brothers are doing other things in life.