Philipp Kohlschreiber defeats Marin Cilic to grab title – BMW Open 2012
Fourth seed, Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, delighted his home fans by upsetting Croatia’s Marin Cilic, seeded third in the draw, in straight sets 7-6(8), 6-3 in the BMW Open final. Kohlschreiber needed one hours and 48 minutes
to clinch title at the clay court event, which was being held in Munich, Germany.
Kohlschreiber was first to take lead, as he broke the Croatian in the third game of the first set and held his next serve to go up 3-1. Cilic made a comeback, hitting back in the eighth to level the score at 4-4. The rest of the
set went with the serve, taking the score to 6-6 and forcing a tie-breaker. Kohlschreiber went off to a flying start but Cilic clawed his way back to once again come on equal terms. Though, the German struck the final blow to win it 7-6(8).
The local favourite, Kohlschreiber, delivered 73 percent of the first serves and sealed 25 of the 35 points on them in the first set. The right-hander failed to evade one of the four break threats he came across but capitalised
on the only chance he created.
Kohlschreiber and Cilic held their serve in the first five games of the second set, taking the proceedings to 3-2 in the former’s favour. The German made the final breakthrough in the sixth game and capitalised on it to triumph
6-3.
The 28-year-old drastically improved his serve, banging in three aces and 76 percent of the first deliveries in the second set. He also had a decent conversion rate, as he captured 20 of the 26 first and five of the eight second
serve points.
Kohlschreiber said, talking to the reporters after the contest, "I think we had a tight and great first set. I was a little more lucky in the important moments. Maybe that was the key to the whole match. I had a good start in the
second set, making a break and I held it until the end."
He added, "It's tough to find the words when you win your home tournament. The win at the BMW Open in 2007 gave me a great start in my career. Now, in the later stages of my career, it's an amazing feeling to win in front of my
home fans."
Ranked 49th at that time, the German had stunned Russian contender, Mikhail Youzhny, in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to win the BMW Open title in 2007.
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