Cilic: "I have been playing without pain for nine months, my best tennis is still there, I think I can go far"
The Croatian reveals his feelings after causing a major upset at Wimbledon 2025 and shows his desire to continue progressing.
Many wrote him off a long time ago, but Marin Cilic has fought against the spiral of injuries that has plagued him in recent years, and the prize obtained at Wimbledon 2025 is significant. The Croatian is in the third round after defeating Draper and showing that his class is still present. The reflections he made in the press conference support the idea that he can achieve something important.
He has nothing to prove to anyone; his best times are behind him. He has a large family to enjoy the benefits of a splendid career, but Marin Cilic wants more. An unconditional love for tennis drives this 36-year-old veteran, who has wandered the Challenger circuit for a long time until regaining his top-100 status after a series of misfortunes in the form of injuries. Wimbledon 2025 could be an opportunity for him to achieve something important and prove that a champion should never be underestimated.
- Feelings after defeating Draper at Wimbledon 2025
"It's a fantastic result, wonderful news for me to defeat an opponent of this caliber in a Grand Slam where I haven't achieved many positive things in recent years. I feel that I have displayed great tennis and capitalized on the good weeks I have had training and with that title in Nottingham that gave me so much confidence. I believe in my chances because I feel that my best tennis is still there. Experience is helping me accept all kinds of situations and adapt to them, but I think I can improve even more and continue in the tournament," said the Medjugorje native.
The draw may have opened up for him after defeating Draper, but he will not have it easy against a Jaume Munar who is in great form in the third round of Wimbledon 2025. "I don't think it's strange to have won this match because I have been feeling very good for weeks. I am aware that I can reach a very high level, and facing top opponents brings out my best. I want to keep progressing; I feel I still have room to play better," affirmed the Croatian.
- Odyssey with his knee injury
The fact that many fans believed Marin Cilic would not be a protagonist in major events is due to a series of physical problems resulting from a serious knee injury, from which he relapsed on occasion, jeopardizing his continuity as a professional tennis player. "It's an important day for me considering what I've been through in the last two or three years. In February 2023, my knee was in bad shape; I spent a lot of time in rehabilitation, had another operation... During that time, I felt the spark of wanting to give myself another chance, to keep having the necessary energy for it. Luckily, I have been playing without pain for eight or nine months now, giving me peace of mind. Mentally, I feel very fresh," he said.
"The diagnosis I received was a problem with the meniscus and also with the cartilage. They operated on me and couldn’t solve anything. I decided I needed to be informed, so I researched a lot about the topic, read scientific articles, talked to many doctors until I decided to travel to the United States to find a specialist who could help me. I saw four or five doctors until I found someone who could assist me, and here I am," declares Marin Cilic, who wants to prolong his love affair with Wimbledon 2025.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cilic: "Llevo nueve meses jugando sin dolor, mi mejor tenis sigue ahí, creo que puedo llegar lejos"