2014 US Open: Marin Cilic beats Kei Nishikori for first Grand Slam title

Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic pose with their trophies after the men’s singles final at the US Open

New York, Sep 9 (IANS) Fourteenth-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia beat 10th seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to win the 2014 US Open title here. It was the first Grand Slam title for the 25-year-old Croat.

Right after the match Monday, Cilic went into his box and gave a hug to everybody on his team, especially his coach Goran Ivanisevic. Cilic, 16th in ATP World Rankings, became the first Croat to win a Grand Slam since Ivanisevic won at the 2001 Wimbledon.

"This is all hard work in these last several years, and especially this last year," he said after the match. "My team has brought something special to me, especially Goran. We're working really hard, but most important from all the things he brought to me was enjoying tennis and always having fun, and I think I enjoyed my best tennis over here and played the best ever in my life."

Cilic didn't drop any set since the quarterfinal. He beat sixth seed Tomas Berdych and five-time former champion Roger Federer en route to the final. Cilic struggled in his opening game. He was once down 30-40, but hit a crosscourt winner afterwards and claimed the first game. The World No.16 found his rhythm after that, breaking in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead, and then served out the set 6-3.

The second set was a much tougher one. Nishikori found himself down by 0-40 in his second service game. The World No.11 Japanese saved the first two break points, but failed in saving the third. With a 2-1 lead,Cilic was on fire. Keeping his lead until the ninth game, Cilic finished the 37-minute set with a forehand winner.

The third set saw Cilic leading 3-1 again. Nishikori couldn't find a better way to limit the power of the tall man on the other side of the net, losing the set and the match 6-3.

"(It) seems completely unreal to be called Grand Slam champion," said Cilic. "I was dreaming about this all my life, and suddenly last four, five days everything started to change."

Nishikori became the first male Asian player to reach a Grand Slam final after upsetting World No.1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinal.

"You know, tennis has not been biggest sport in Japan," said Nishikori about his success and the influence to Japan.

"Women's, yes, but men never make this far. Really happy to make a lot of history and, great compliments. Hopefully I can win next time and have something more, good result like this."