Challenges Faced by Marin Čilić: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Marin Čilić's life and career.

Marin Čilić is a highly accomplished Croatian professional tennis player, reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 3. His achievements include 21 ATP Tour-level singles titles, highlighted by his major victory at the 2014 US Open. He is considered among the greatest Croatian tennis players alongside Goran Ivanišević and Iva Majoli, solidifying his place in tennis history.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

2007: Singles Title Drought

In 2007, Čilić had previously gone without winning a singles title, marking a period where he faced challenges in securing a tournament victory.

August 2008: Tournament Final Drought

As of August 2008, Čilić had not reached a tournament final in over a year, marking a significant period without a final appearance.

2014: US Open Final Rematch

In 2014, Čilić participated in a rematch against Kei Nishikori at the US Open quarterfinals, a repeat of their final match from that year.

2014: Wimbledon Quarterfinals

In 2014, Čilić reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, marking a significant achievement in the tournament.

2015: French Open and Wimbledon Performance

In 2015, at the French Open, Čilić was defeated by David Ferrer in the fourth round. He also reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon after defeating Moriya, Berankis, Isner and Kudla.

2017: 2017 Season Start

In 2017, Čilić started his season as the first seed at the Chennai Open but lost in the second round. At the Australian Open, he lost in the second round to Dan Evans.

2017: Istanbul Open Title Defense Failure

In 2017, Čilić was unable to defend his title at Istanbul, losing in his opening match to Malek Jaziri. This loss marked the first time since February 2014 that he had not held any tournament on the ATP Tour.

2018: 2018 Season Start

In 2018, Čilić began the season as the first seed in Pune, India, where he reached the semifinals but lost to eventual champion Gilles Simon.

2020: 2020 Season Performance

In 2020, Čilić reached the fourth round of the Australian Open before losing to Milos Raonic. He also experienced early exits in the Open 13, Dubai Tennis Championships, and Cincinnati Masters. At the US Open, he reached the third round, and he was defeated in the first round of the French Open by Dominic Thiem.

2021: 2021 Season Start

In 2021, Čilić began the season at the Murray River Open, losing in the first round. At the Australian Open, he was defeated in the first round by Grigor Dimitrov.

2023: Knee Injury and Hiatus

In 2023, Čilić reached the quarterfinals in Pune but injured his knee, leading to his withdrawal from the tournament and a subsequent hiatus that caused him to fall out of the top 100.

May 2024: Withdrawal from French Open

In May 2024, Čilić withdrew from the French Open due to undergoing knee surgery.

2025: French Open Appearance and Qualifying

In 2025, Čilić played in the French Open for the first time since 2022, entering as a lucky loser after qualifying, marking his first major qualifying competition since 2007. He lost in the first round to Flavio Cobolli.