Players to bid at the 2012 US Open Championships: (Part Nine) – Tennis Special
Very few athletes from Croatia have made big names in the world of tennis. With the legendary Croat veteran, Ivan Ljubicic, retiring from the professional circuit, all hopes are falling on the young gun from Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Marin Cilic – Croatia
23-year old Marin Cilic is deemed to be the future of Croatian tennis in the coming days. The 6ft 6in tall is a former top-tenner and aiming to break into the elite group once again. Cilic has been in very good form this year,
winning two ATP championship titles already and holding the world number 14 spot with authority.
Cilic is among the hard-hitting players in the professional circuit and possess one of the deadliest serve in his bag. His extra height adds to his advantage while serving and reaching for return strokes in the contest, turning
the tables on his opponent with such phenomenal features. The Croat has won eight titles in his entire career but hasn’t got his hands on a Grand Slam or the ATP Masters Series trophy till date.
The 23-year-old has reached the fourth round or further in all the Major tournaments but couldn’t make it up to the title match. He was the semi-finalist at the 2010 Australian Open, his best run at any Grand Slam event, but couldn’t
cash in the precious opportunity to make history. Cilic’s best performance at the US Open came in the year 2009 when he beat the then world number two, Andy Murray, to reach the quarter-finals of the mega event. However, his dream run came to an end at the
hands of the eventual champion, Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina.
Cilic missed out the Australian Open this year due to injury but finished in the third round of the Roland Garros and fourth round of the Wimbledon Championships. He is 5-2 in the Grand Slams this season and it is anticipated that
he will lead Croatian hopes all the way to the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Mardy Fish – United Stated of America
Once the number one American tennis player, Mardy Fish’s form has been brutally tarnished by persistent injuries. It was just about seven months ago that Fish was playing the coveted ATP World Tour Finals as the world number eight
player but he has fallen to the 15th spot at the present. Winner of six ATP championship titles, the 30-year-old American veteran will be among the few home favourites at the US Open this season.
Fish has played only 18 matches in this year so far, losing eight of them and not winning a single title till date. No doubt that the American number two is struggling with his fitness and form at the moment and has also missed
out the Olympic Games earlier due to niggling injuries. It is very hard to anticipate Fish winning the US Open title but the home conditions and support can surely push him to reach at least the fourth round of the draw. He finished in the fourth round of
the US Open last year and i don’t see him improving his run this time round as well.
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