Marin Cilic outlasted German Michael Berrer 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3 after 2 hours and 38 minutes of play in the Zagreb singles final. The 6’6” Croat blew through his matches this week to secure his spot in the final. It looked like the final would be more of the same.

Cilic secured the first set today by breaking Berrer in game five. The match tightened in the second set, and the German snuck off with it in the tiebreak. The world no. 10 secured the title when he went up 4-1 in the final set. The German gave him a scare while serving for the set, but Cilic fought off two break points and secured the game, the final set and the match.

Today’s title win is Cilic’s fifth-career title. He now has successfully defended his Chennai and Zagreb titles this year. The Croat starts off the year with a 15-1 record. He will take this week off and will play in Dubai the following week.


Championship Sunday
Singles Final
1 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Michael Berrer (GER) 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3

Doubles Final
J. Melzer (AUT)/P. Petzschner (GER) def. A. Clement (FRA)/O. Rochus (BEL) 3-6 6-3 10-8

(Image: AFP)

Top-seed Marin Cilic looks to go two-for-two tomorrow in defending his titles this year. The Croat is having a banner year so far with a 14-1 record. The 21-year-old successfully defended his title in Chennai in January and will defend his title tomorrow in the Zagreb final. Cilic beat third-seed Jurgen Melzer in today’s first semifinal 7-6(5) 6-4.

The last player standing in his way is Michael Berrer. The German beat his compatriot, Philipp Petzschner 7-6(6) 7-5 in the second semifinal. Cilic and Berrer have never played before, but the German will have his work cut out for him tomorrow against the defending champion.

Saturday's Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. 3 Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 7-6(5) 6-4
Michael Berrer (GER) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 7-6(6) 7-5

Doubles Semifinals
J. Melzer (AUT)/P. Petzschner (GER) def. 3 M. Damm (CZE)/F. Polasek (SVK) 7-6(4) 6-4

(Image: Hrvoje Polan/AFP/Getty Images)

Marin Cilic defeated the always problematic Ivo “MC” Karlovic 7-6(6) 6-4. Karlovic rained down 24 aces on his compatriot, but the 21 year old was able to get the upper hand in the tiebreak and then obtain a break in the second set.

The world no. 10 will play Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the semifinal. Cilic leads their head-to-head 3-1, but Melzer won their last meeting in Vienna where he had the home field advantage. The tables will be turned on the Austrian tomorrow.

On the other side of the draw, German Michael Berrer upset fourth-seed Viktor Troicki in straight sets. He will advance to play Philipp Petzschner in an all-German semifinal. Petzschner rallied to beat Lukas Lacko, who just came off his upset of second-seed Ivan Ljubicic yesterday. Berrer and Petzschner have never played in ATP competition, but Petzschner does lead their head-to-head 2-1 on the challenger circuit.

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. 7 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 7-6(6) 6-4
3 Jurgen Melzer (AUT) vs Ilya Marchenko (UKR)
Michael Berrer (GER) def. 4 Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-4 6-3
Philipp Petzschner (GER) def. Lukas Lacko (SVK) 6-7(1) 6-2 6-2

Doubles Semifinals
A. Clement (FRA)/O. Rochus (BEL) def. B. Becker (GER)/R. Schuettler (GER) 6-3 1-6 10-3

Saturday's Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. 3 Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
Michael Berrer (GER) vs. Philipp Petzschner (GER)

Doubles Semifinals
3 M. Damm (CZE)/F. Polasek (SVK) vs. J. Melzer (AUT)/P. Petzschner (GER)

Saturday’s Order of Play

(Image: PBZ Zagreb Indoors)

In his first match after his Davis Cup showing, Rafael Nadal’s beatdown tour continued today, but this time it was on a hard court. He gave the business to German Michael Berrer by winning 6-2 6-1 in just 67 minutes of play. The Spaniard dominated the German in all areas, and even won points he should not have won. Berrer tried to come to the net, but Nadal just played target practice.

Nadal was so relentless that he wanted to win every point and every game. When the German won his second game in the first set after facing a breakpoint, Nadal was furious that he did not seize another break opportunity. That kind of focus is scary and makes one frightened for his next opponent.

That lucky person will be Dmitry Tursunov in the third round. Nadal currently leads their head-to-head 1-0 where he won their last meeting in Rotterdam in 2008. Tursunov is a much better player than Berrer, so we shall see if he gives Nadal a little more trouble.
(image: AP)