Marin Cilic outmuscles Mikhail Youzhny to reach semis – BMW Open 2012
Third seeded, Marin Cilic, required three sets to overpower the Russian veteran, Mikhail Youzhny, at the BMW Open 2012 on Friday. He summed up a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 victory against the world number 36 to labour into the final four at this ATP (Association of
Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event taking place in Munich, Germany.
The Croatian rising star, Cilic, got the better of Youzhny in two hours and 45 minutes in a re-match of BMW 2010 final. After earning this success in their eighth battle against each other, Cilic not only lowered trail in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series
by 3-5 against the Russian but also advanced into the semi-finals.
"We always have tough matches. I would say the level of tennis was high," Cilic was quoted in a courtside interview. "In the second set, Misha was playing unbelievable. He saved a match point with an amazing backhand down the line. What I was happy about
today was that I kept my level going. Even though I lost my serve at the beginning of the third set, I got the momentum back and I think that was really crucial."
Cilic high-spiritedly entered this clay court tournament and cashed in his lone break opportunity in the fourth game to pull out the opener with a 6-3 score line. He warded off both breakpoints he came across and smacked three aces to dominate the opening
set.
The 29-year-old on the other hand raised the bar of his game in the second set and swiftly swiped in his entire serves without facing any breakpoint. Despite squandering his all three break opportunities, Youzhny edged past the Croat in the tie-breaker and
sealed the equaliser with a 7-6(6) win.
24th ranked Cilic re-gained his earlier composure in the final set. He suffered the first blow in the opening game but quickly recovered in the very next game. The Croat held his remaining serve with conviction and got the breakthrough in the
sixth game, subsequently pocketing the decider with a 6-3 win.
Next up for the seed is the local wild card entrant, Tommy Haas, who stunned eighth seeded Marcos Baghdatis with a breadstick to set-up this battle.
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