Marin Cilic downs Potito Starace in the first round of Mutua Madrid Open
Croatian Marin Cilic, ranked 19th in the world, prevailed over world number 41 Potito Starace of Italy in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-4 in the opening round of the Mutua Madrid Open at the La Caja Mágica in Madrid on Monday.
The match lasted for an hour and 34 minutes.
In the first set, none of the two players was able to break other’s serve in the first twelve games, levelling the score at 6-6 to force a tie-break. Cilic hit a forehand smash to claim a mini-break in the tie-break, clinching
it 7-5.
The Croatian fired five aces and 48 percent of the first serves in the opening set. The 22-year-old won an amazing 94 percent of the first service points in the first set. While, Starace delivered 78 percent of the first serves,
converting 63 percent of the points on them in the opening set. The Italian returned poorly as he could grab just a single point from 16 first returns. Whereas, Cilic converted 38 percent of his first returns into points. The Croatian did not face any break
point and failed to capitalize on the only break point opportunity he created in the opening set.
In contrast to the first set, the second saw Cilic and Starace breaking each other on a number of occasions. But, it was Cilic who broke his opponent three times to bag the second set 6-4.
The Croatian served brilliantly as he hit six aces and only one double fault in the second set. The right-handed kept his kept his first serve percentage at 63 percent and clinched 64 percent of the points on them in the second
set. On the other hand, Starace fired 67 percent of the first serves, winning 58 percent of the points on them. The Italian saved two of the five break points he faced in the second set. In comparison, Cilic saved four of the six break points in the second
set.
The Croatian is featuring at the Mutua Madrid Open for the fourth time in his career. In his debut appearance here in 2008, Cilic reached the round of 16, losing to Andy Murray of Great Britain in straight sets 5-7, 6-7(2). The
six feet and six inches tall lost to German Philipp Kohlschreiber in three thrilling sets 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-7(2) in the second round in 2009. The Croatian was thrashed by David Ferrer of Spain in straight sets 3-6, 2-6 in the round of 16 last year.
Cilic is slated to meet either world number 32 Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina or Russian Mikhail Youzhny, ranked 13th in the world, in the second round.
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