Marin Cilic Wins US Open Final
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Fourteenth-seeded Marin Cilic won his first major on Monday night after he defeated 10th-seeded Kei Nishikori, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 at the U.S. Open.
Cilic used 17 aces and earned $3 million for the win.
“Seems completely unreal,” Cilic said, “to be called ‘Grand Slam champion.’ “
Both Cilic and Nishikori were playing in their first major championship and admitted that they let the pressure get to them at first.
“Both of us were pretty nervous in the first set, especially,” Cilic acknowledged.
“This,” Cilic continued, “is [from] all the hard work in these last several years — and especially this last year.”
Cilic knocked out the top-seeded Novak Djokovic for a chance to compete for the title.
Nishikori was the lowest seed to reach the U.S. Open Final since 17th-seeded Pete Sampras did it in 2002.
“Tennis has not been our biggest sport in Japan,” Nishikori said. “Hopefully I can win next time.”
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