09.02.2013.
Cilic and Melzer for PBZ Zagreb Indoors title
Marin Cilic and Jurgen Melzer will meet again at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors, but not in the semifinals as in 2010. This time it will be in the finals: Cilic defeated reigning champion Mikhail Youzhny coming back from one set down, winning 4:6, 6:4, 6:3. Previously, Melzer defeated Dutchman Robin Haase 7:6 (2), 6:3.
Cilic, two-time champion here (in 2009 and 2010), lost set for the first time this week, but still found the way to victory. Second set was decided by a single „break“ and Cilic was up immediately in the third set, as he broke in the opening game. At 2:1, when he served facing a break point, he was penalized for time violation. Since he already had one warning he was denied first serve and then made double fault. A few minutes later Youzhny was 3:2 up, but did not win single game after that.
„It was as expected: tough match. This surface suits him and it was seen today again. I did not serve as I wanted to, so I had to try to find different approach. There was lot of baseline exchanges, lots of running and tactical solutions“, Cilic said.
Asked about the time violation he replied:
„Chair umpires keep strict to the rule nowadays. I wouldn't mind if it happened after short point, but I was forced to the net after the drop shot. I should have run to the baseline to be there on time.“
Cilic reached 16th career singles final and will try to win ninth title on Sunday.
After the third game of the second set Youzhny asked for physioterapist, citing leg pain, but insisted it was not the reason he lost.
„I would not even call it an injury. It happened during the match, it was kind of tighteness. Marin played very well, very consistent. And it was not easy for him to come this far, after playing weekend in the Davis Cup", Youzhny said.
This will be the first final for Melzer in Croatia, after he fell short three times in the semifinals – twice in Umag and once in Zagreb. He was rather dominant against Haase on Saturday.
"I played very good match and by far this is my best match here this week. I felt I was better player today even though we had to play tie breaker - I won 11 points more than Haase in the first set", Melzer said.
Austrian won 33 out of 36 points on first serve. He failed to convert two break” points in the second game of the match, then two set points at 5:4, but “kept focused”, as he said. He led 5:2 in the second set as Haase converted the lone break point, but Melzer immediately broke again, converting the fourth match point.
In head-to-head series Cilic is 6-2 up and won two last encounters.
Cilic, two-time champion here (in 2009 and 2010), lost set for the first time this week, but still found the way to victory. Second set was decided by a single „break“ and Cilic was up immediately in the third set, as he broke in the opening game. At 2:1, when he served facing a break point, he was penalized for time violation. Since he already had one warning he was denied first serve and then made double fault. A few minutes later Youzhny was 3:2 up, but did not win single game after that.
„It was as expected: tough match. This surface suits him and it was seen today again. I did not serve as I wanted to, so I had to try to find different approach. There was lot of baseline exchanges, lots of running and tactical solutions“, Cilic said.
Asked about the time violation he replied:
„Chair umpires keep strict to the rule nowadays. I wouldn't mind if it happened after short point, but I was forced to the net after the drop shot. I should have run to the baseline to be there on time.“
Cilic reached 16th career singles final and will try to win ninth title on Sunday.
After the third game of the second set Youzhny asked for physioterapist, citing leg pain, but insisted it was not the reason he lost.
„I would not even call it an injury. It happened during the match, it was kind of tighteness. Marin played very well, very consistent. And it was not easy for him to come this far, after playing weekend in the Davis Cup", Youzhny said.
This will be the first final for Melzer in Croatia, after he fell short three times in the semifinals – twice in Umag and once in Zagreb. He was rather dominant against Haase on Saturday.
"I played very good match and by far this is my best match here this week. I felt I was better player today even though we had to play tie breaker - I won 11 points more than Haase in the first set", Melzer said.
Austrian won 33 out of 36 points on first serve. He failed to convert two break” points in the second game of the match, then two set points at 5:4, but “kept focused”, as he said. He led 5:2 in the second set as Haase converted the lone break point, but Melzer immediately broke again, converting the fourth match point.
In head-to-head series Cilic is 6-2 up and won two last encounters.