Marin Cilic looks to ride momentum through Tour Finals, Davis Cup

Every move of the “Big Four” justifiably commands attention. But forget about Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, if only for a second, and consider the peculiar fate of Marin Cilic in 2016.

The Croat is one of only two players this season—Juan Martin del Potro being the other—to beat both Murray and Djokovic, yet he is the lone member of the elite eight at the ATP World Tour Finals to lose to a foe ranked outside the top 150 at a Grand Slam whose initials weren’t JMDP.

How many times has a player succumbed in back-to-back matches after leading by two sets, as Cilic did against Federer and Jack Sock at Wimbledon and in the Davis Cup quarterfinals, respectively, in July?

He then, however, kickstarted Croatia’s comeback against the U.S. by overcoming the Bryan brothers in the doubles alongside fellow London participant Ivan Dodig and enjoyed one of those perfect Davis Cup weekends in the semifinals. He triumphed in all three of his matches against the more fancied, but still underachieving, French to book Croatia’s spot in the finale against del Potro’s Argentina.

His victory over Djokovic in the quarterfinals at the Paris Masters ensured one-half of Murray’s scenario to snatch No. 1 from the Serb in the French capital unfolded and as he bids to end the Scot’s 19-match winning streak on Monday in London, ponder this: How many times has a player downed different No. 1s in back-to-back tournaments?

Even with Murray holding an 11-3 advantage against Cilic, the possibility isn’t farfetched as Cilic emerged victorious in their last meeting in Cincinnati in August.

If Murray was jaded back then — perhaps rendering the result an anomaly — there have been instances in the past where Cilic certainly had opportunities to balance the lopsided head-to-head record. He tested Murray this year and in 2013 at Queen’s; at the Paris Masters in 2010; and at the 2012 U.S. Open, when he led 6-3, 5-1, only to capitulate.

At the 2010 Australian Open, despite feeling the effects of back-to-back five set wins over del Potro and Andy Roddick, Cilic still managed to land the first set.

But in all those near misses, of course, Murray dealt with the pressure much, much better.

“Preparation-wise for this tournament, obviously that match in Cincinnati is I would say a key part, quite a big part for me to prepare and know even with his great form I was able to beat him,” the ever-polite Cilic, who trumped the tour’s heftier reputations to win the ATP’s Humanitarian award, said Friday.

“Definitely I will try to take some things from that match and implement them here, but on the other hand it’s also a little bit different conditions here,” he said. “We play indoors. He has been on an amazing run the last few weeks. He’ll have the crowd on his side.

“He’ll be extremely motivated for this week.”

After Murray, Cilic arrived in London as the most in-form competitor, winning the Swiss Indoors—broken once throughout the tournament—and reaching the semifinals in Paris. He figures to perform better at the World Tour Finals than in his lone other appearance in 2014, when a shoulder injury took its toll.

Cilic’s backhand remains outstanding while he’s not shy to move forward and play at the net, no doubt a tactic he will have discussed with newish coach Jonas Bjorkman, a fine volleyer in his day who was formerly part of Murray’s entourage.

When he is at his bullying best, the forehand is a weapon, not a liability.

A former coach, Bob Brett, didn’t discount Cilic having an extended stay at the World Tour Finals.

“That win over Novak was great,” Brett said. “I think that it was something that gives you a lift. I think he’s got a package of things that have been really good with victories and I think it has given him just that little bit more confidence. He’s having some good performances.

“Hopefully that’ll make him one of the contenders at the World Tour Finals. I think getting to the semifinals would be pretty good, or he could even do better.”

Cilic admitted he has been unable to reproduce his 2014 U.S. Open form at big tournaments this season, but felt overall he was more consistent.

Three more wins and Cilic hits 50 in a season for the second time.

“Over there [at the 2014 U.S. Open], I played incredible tennis,” said Cilic, a healthy 6-3 against the top-10 in 2016. “Compared to now, I don’t think I played this year that well. But looking at this year, I have been really consistent the last five months. That’s something I’m more eager to see in my tennis and something that I was looking for in my career, to have that quite high consistency.”

As for having one eye on the Davis Cup final after the World Tour Finals, Cilic joins a lengthy list of players in that situation in recent years: Murray, Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych. He isn’t fazed.

“I’m quite relaxed about it,” he said. “Quite honored to be in that position — playing here at the World Tour Finals and plus the Davis Cup at home. You have to think about that as well. Not many things can be better.

“Thinking about the physical part, obviously I am going to get a little bit tired as the season is long, but especially in the last few weeks, there has been pressure on me,” Cilic added. “I hope my body is going to be able to sustain it, that I’m not going to get or sick or something. Hopefully everything will be fine.

“Motivation-wise, there’s not much else that can be better.”