Marin Cilic offered sympathy to Rafael Nadal after the world number one was forced to retire from their absorbing quarter-final at the Australian Open.
Nadal’s hopes of reaching the last four were dashed by an apparent injury to his upper right leg, which prompted the Spaniard to call for a medical timeout in the fourth set.
Sixth seed Cilic duly levelled the match and a limping Nadal, whose movement was significantly compromised, decided he could not continue after falling 2-0 down in the decider.
While there was much to admire in Cilic’s performance on Rod Laver Arena, most notably a barrage of stinging forehands, the Croatian acknowledged his opponent’s rotten luck.
READ | Rafael Nadal out of Australian Open, retires hurt against Marin Cilic
“[It was an] unbelievable performance from both of us and really unfortunate for Rafa,” said Cilic in an on-court interview.
“He’s an unbelievable competitor, always gives his best and it’s very unfortunate for him to finish this way.”
Cilic remained wary of a fightback even when Nadal was limping heavily at the start of the fifth set.
“When you’re wounded, sometimes you are a little bit looser, so I was really paying attention to these first couple of games [in set five], just trying to keep my intensity up,” he explained.
{{/usCountry}}“When you’re wounded, sometimes you are a little bit looser, so I was really paying attention to these first couple of games [in set five], just trying to keep my intensity up,” he explained.
{{/usCountry}}“It was absolutely important for me to keep that intensity up and continue with my own game, not looking across the net.
“As the match went further on, I was hitting more winners, playing better and better.”
Surprise package Kyle Edmund now stands between Cilic and a third grand slam final appearance.
“He’s had an amazing run in this tournament. Definitely big congratulations to him,” said the 2014 US Open champion.
“For me, I have to keep going with my own game. Kyle is also a big hitter, great serve, great forehand, so I have to take things in my own hands and try to deal with my own [side of the] court in the best way possible.”