Khaleej Times

Cilic hurt at not being able to save his best for last

-

london — Devastated Marin Cilic admitted his Wimbledon final tears were triggered by the realisatio­n his bid to shock Roger Federer was destined to end in a painful defeat.

Cilic wept inconsolab­ly on Centre Court midway through the second set after calling for medical attention on a nasty blister on his left foot.

The former US Open champion gamely played through the agony, but couldn’t stop Federer cruising to a 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 victory on Sunday.

“I got a bad blister in the semifinal against Sam Querrey. Fluid just trickled down under the foot,” Cilic said.

“The physios here helped me over the last 30 hours. They were with me constantly and did as much as they could. “I still felt the pain.

I got a bad blister in the semifinal against Sam Querrey. Fluid just trickled down under the foot Marin Cilic

Every time I had to do a reaction fast, fast change of movement, I was unable to do that.

“Obviously it was very tough emotionall­y because I know how much I went through in the last few months in preparatio­n for Wimbledon.”

Cilic explained that his tears at 3-0 down in the second set were more a result of his disappoint­ment at not being able to perform at his best rather than a legacy of the pain.

“It was just a feeling I knew I cannot give my best on the court, that I cannot give my best game, especially at this stage of my career, at such a big match,” he said.

“It was very, very difficult to deal with it. It didn’t hurt so much that it was putting me in tears. It was just that feeling that I wasn’t able to give the best.

“It was actually very difficult to focus on the match, as well, as my mind was all the time blocked with the pain. It was tough for me to focus on the tactics, on the things that I needed to do. I wasn’t serving very good today (Sunday) because of that.”

“Also I was just not able to set up properly on the balls. It was very, very tough to deal with it.” — AFP

 ?? Reuters ?? Marin Cilic receives medical attention for a blister on his left foot. —
Reuters Marin Cilic receives medical attention for a blister on his left foot. —

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates