Marin Cilic stunned Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-6(2) at the BNP Paribas Masters, as the Race for the year end number one ranking intensifies.
The world number 10 won his first match in 15 attempts in the quarterfinals of the Paris masters. Cilic showed no fear throughout the match as he elevated his game to beat the current world number one. Djokovic showed signs of an arm injury during the match and this prevented him from mounting any offence on the Cilic serve. The former US Open champion won 75% of 1st service points and broke three times en route to a famous victory. Here is how Cilic completed victory:
After the match Djokovic congratulated his opponent, “He definitely played better today, and he deserved to win… I wasn’t on the level that I could have been on. I was also… in a good position to take the match into the third set, and then two double faults. Just in important moments I wasn’t able to deliver.” After his loss Novak Djokovic could now enter the ATP World Tour Finals as the world number two, that’s if Andy Murray can reach the final in Paris. As for Cilic his good run continues and now aims to win his second masters event of the season.
Cilic will now play American John Isner in the semifinals after he beat compatriot Jack Sock 7-6(6) 4-6 6-4 in two hours and 17 minutes. Isner hit 17 aces past his fellow American, who has now reached at least one masters 1000 semifinal for the past six years. Isner and Cilic will now meet for the sixth time, with the Croatian winning all six previous meetings. As for Jack Sock even though he lost the match, he did provide some entertainment for the crowd as he hit the shot of the week with a 172 km/h return. You can see the shot below:
Finally, Andy Murray is one victory away from becoming the new world number one in the world after he defeated Tomas Berdych 7-6(9) 7-5. Berdych had seven set points in the first set before Murray hustled and fought his way to take the first set tiebreak 11-9. Despite a change in tactic for the Czech Republican to break back when Murray served for the match at 5-4, The Scot weathered the storm and took the match to secure his 72nd win of the season. If he wins his semifinal tomorrow he becomes the new number one in the world. However Berdych’s loss now means he has been eliminated from the race to London and is now down between Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Dominic Thiem for the last spot in London. Andy Murray will play Jo-Wilfred Tsonga or Milos Raonic in the semifinals.
