2011 Aircel Chennai Open: Defending champion Marin Cilic exits the event
First day of the new season and fans already witness the ghosts of 2010 coming to haunt the opening triad. In a rematch of the 2010 United States Open, defending champion Marin Cilic was defeated by rising Japanese Star Kei Nishikori
at the 2011 Aircel Chennai Open.
Returning to the event for the fourth straight year, Cilic’s stay in Chennai was short-lived courtesy Nishikori. Debuting in 2008, Cilic made a semi-final run at the event before losing to eventual champion Mikhail Youzhny. He
returned the next year to make it all the way to the finals. Defeating local Somdev Devvarman, Cilic was able to win his first title of the year. Returning in 2010, Cilic successfully defended his title at the event defeating Janko Tipsarevic in the semis
before doing away with Stanislas Wawrinka in the final.
His title win at Chennai was followed by another successful title defence at Zagreb. Coupled with his semi-final run at the Australian Open, Cilic achieved his career high ranking of nine in February. Given his disappointing performance
for the rest of the season, Cilic finished the season ranked 14th in the world.
Nishikori on the other hand finished the season ranked 98th, climbing 322 places. Although he did not win any title in 2010, he did manage four title wins in the ATP Challenger Tour.
Nishikori was able to secure a 2-1 lead in his head-to-head with Cilic after ousting the Croat from the Chennai event today. The Japanese had earlier levelled the score at the 2010 United States Open, where he defeated the Croat.
Already on the rise in 2010, Nishikori’s addition of Brad Gilbert to his team only seemed to add surety to that climb.
After a jittery start in the opener, Nishikori lost the first set 4-6. Determined not to give up just yet, the Japanese bounced back in the second set and not only took it to the tiebreaker, but also ensured a bagel win over the
Croat. With one set each, the match went into the decider. Continuing his form into the third set, Nishikori was able to secure a 6-2 win for himself toppling the second seeded defending champion.
Talking to the press after his victory, Nishikori said, "My first serve was not good in the first set and he attacked my second serve. But in the next set, I served better and also was more confident in going for my shots I was
very nervous with a new coach (Brad Gilbert who was hired in December 2010), new clothes, new place, first match and all that, but it was a good start for me,"
With his bid for a hat trick at the Chennai event ended by the Japanese, the dejected Cilic heads back to Croatia. Talking about his loss, Cilic said, "I played well in the first set, but wasted a few breakpoints in the second
and he gained in momentum. He served well in the tie-break and in the third, he played some good shots. It had nothing to do with physical, but just that he played better in the third and deserved to win."
Nishikori will next face either Alejandro Falla or Rui Machado.
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