At 37, Marin Cilic refuses to leave the stage. The Croatian produced a remarkable comeback at the Libema Open in s-Hertogenbosch on Monday, returning to the Dutch grass courts for the first time since 2017. Against Denis Shapovalov, he fought for nearly three hours to win 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5.
The match followed the classic veteran script. Cilic dropped the first set in a tiebreak, then found himself trailing 2-4 in the second. Many would have expected the Canadian, eleven years his junior, to close things out. Cilic had other plans, reeling off four straight games to level the set.
The decider delivered maximum drama. Shapovalov served for the match at 5-4, but Cilic refused to yield, breaking back under immense pressure before sealing the win at 7-5. Across the match, the Croatian converted seven of his ten break points, a clinical ratio for a player of his age.
The 2014 US Open champion, 2017 Wimbledon finalist, and 2018 Australian Open finalist boasts a résumé that speaks for itself. But recent seasons have seen injuries push him down the rankings, now well outside the top 100. His ranking no longer reflects the level he can still produce on grass, a surface that has always showcased his thunderous serve and powerful forehand.
In s-Hertogenbosch, Cilic returns to a tournament he last visited nearly a decade ago, when he reached the semifinals in 2017. The Dutch grass suits his attacking game, and this victory over a talent like Shapovalov proves the former world No. 3 still has chapters left to write. As long as the body holds, the Croatian intends to make every ball count.
