Novak Djokovic vs. Marin Cilic: Score and Recap from 2014 ATP World Tour Finals
Novak Djokovic’s quest to win his third consecutive ATP Tour Finals title got off to a perfect start, as he hammered U.S. Open Champion Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-1 at the O2 Arena in London on Monday.
The result was shared by the ATP World Tour Twitter account:
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The World No. 1 was far too strong for the Croatian, and on this evidence, it’s going to be extremely difficult for any of the remaining seven players in the field to get the better of the Serbian sensation.
Ahead of his opening match, Djokovic spoke of his excitement of playing at the finals and paid tribute to his opponent after a breakthrough year, per Simon Burnton of The Guardian:
"It feels great to be here. It’s one of the best venues for World Tour Finals. I’m excited. I’m looking forward to competing.
Obviously in the last couple of months he’s playing the tennis of his life. He won his first Grand Slam. He’s motivated to play every match like it’s his last. It’s going to be tough but I look forward to it.
"
But as fine a player as Cilic is, the top seed is imperious indoors, as BBC Tennis reminded us prior to this one getting underway:
Djokovic has been in particularly sparkling form on the cusp of these finals, and the packed house at the O2 Arena was eager to see the seven-time Grand Slam champion in action. And after the two players won their opening service games, Djokovic showcased his patented steel to break Cilic in the third. The Croatian made a rudimentary error, firing wide with the Serb having slipped.
In the early matches of these finals we’ve already seen how nerves can play a critical part in these tight games, and although Cilic is now a Grand Slam winner, he did look a little tentative out there against the top seed.
Craig O’Shannessy of ATP World Tour thought the Croatian was trying a little too hard early on:
Indeed, his problems continued in the fifth game of the match, which began with a double fault. Sensing his opponent's fragility, Djokovic upped the ante, breaking Cilic for the second time in the set and moving into a commanding 4-1 lead. By this point, the Croatian looked to have given up on the first and there was little surprise as Djokovic rattled off the next two games to take it 6-1.
The reigning champion didn't seem to be in any mood to hang about, as noted by Live Tennis:
"It takes Novak Djokovic 27 minutes to take the first set 6-1 over Marin Cilic - watch live: http://t.co/xTt9nJqCyM pic.twitter.com/3C8VlKwMXL
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) November 10, 2014"
British doubles player Colin Fleming paid tribute to Djokovic's performance in the first set, per BBC Sport:
"Ominous signs for Cilic tonight.
There's so many different aspects to Djokovic's game. We spoke about Cilic going after him, but Djokovic defends so well, it's almost like the hunter becomes the hunted.
"
The pattern continued in earnest at the start of the second set, as the Serb made it seven in a row by winning his first service game. Cilic was looking especially ragged in stark contrast to his unflappable opponent, and when another unforced error handed Djokovic a further break and a 2-0 lead in the second, the jig looked to be up for the U.S. Open champion.
But there's a reason Cilic is a Grand Slam winner, and he showed some fortitude by halting Djokovic's run and breaking him to love in the third game.
Jamie Murray, who was running the Sky Sports Tennis Twitter account, was just as surprised as the rest of us given the dominance Djokovic has exerted early on:
Djokovic seemed intent on making a quick getaway, however, and after a slack third game, he was back on song again in the fourth. Cilic was able to save two break points, but when the champion conjured up a third, it was grasped with aplomb and the hard work done by the World No. 8 in was quickly undone.
A dejected Cilic knew it too, as Djokovic rattled off the next three games to take the second set 6-1 and seal a wholly convincing victory.
Djokovic has a marvellous intensity about his play at the moment, one that—with the absence of Rafael Nadal—few players on the planet can live with. And it was so prominent throughout the course of this opening match, one in which he laid down a real marker up against a potentially awkward opponent.
Cilic has the class to regroup from this harrowing result and should draw on his Grand Slam experience to help him recover in the next two matches. He began this clash far too erratically, and when the mistakes creep in against a player like Djokovic, it's hugely difficult to establish any kind of foothold.
Nonetheless, you suspect he won't be last player in this tournament to be on the end of a masterclass from the Serb.
All rankings and statistics courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com
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