By beating Draper, Cilic back to doing Cilic-things at Slams

After multiple knee surgeries and the Challenger circuit, Croat shows his level and desire for elite level tennis are intact

- Rutvick Mehta

Marin Cilic’s resurgence has blossomed at the heart of Grand Slam tennis in southwest London.

The root of his adversities began at a low-key ATP tournament in western India two years ago.

Between then and now, the 36-year-old former world No.3 and 2014 US Open champion has been through multiple knee surgeries, a fall to outside 1000 in the world rankings, and a humble buckle down at the Challenger level.

And so, when this understated Croatian, who's won 21 ATP titles and made the Slam semifinals six times, terms a second-round victory at Wimbledon one of the best of his two-decade long career, you've got to agree with him. Not just because he sent the fourth seed and home favourite Jack Draper packing 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in his first Wimbledon since 2021; not also because Cilic was back to doing Cilic-things at Slams, with that steely fist bump and gritty eyes; but also given how his body and mind have unravelled at various points of this troubled phase that threatened to diminish what more this career could have been.