Marin Cilic is another veteran of the ATP tour who still loves tennis very much and does not want to retire despite his 'prime' is now really far away. The Croatian champion has been out of action for a long time due to a serious knee injury, which forced him to undergo several surgeries in an attempt to end his career on his own terms and without too much pain.
The 2014 US Open champion had the humility to also play Challenger tournaments to improve his ranking, further testimony to his total dedication to this sport. Marin has achieved good results in recent weeks – having won the Girona Challenger and having reached the final in Madrid – which is why he is not too far from the Top 100 of the ATP ranking (he currently occupies the 111th position).
Cilic is very confident
In a long interview with the official ATP website, Cilic explained how his prospects have changed at this stage of his brilliant career: "No longer being in the Top 100 of the ATP ranking, I had to accept that he could no longer choose which tournaments to play as he did in the past. I had to work hard, go back to playing the Challengers and think about one match at a time to get back up. I'm satisfied with my level in recent weeks, I'm going in the right direction and I hope that 2025 will bring me some good satisfaction."
The Croatian had already undergone knee surgery but had not solved the issue, before turning to Dr. Brian Cole who helped him extend his career on the professional tour.
"He explained all the details of the surgery to me and I must admit that his surgery proved to be fundamental for me. I had a serious problem with the cartilage in my knee probably due to wear and tear and the second operation was a salvation. I made the best decision possible," said the 2017 Wimbledon Championships finalist.
His next goal is to further improve his ranking and end his career in style.
