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2018 US Open, September 2 Men's singles, 3rd round Louis Armstrong Stadium, Billie Jean King Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York Marin Cilic vs Alex De Minaur |
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He’s in the form of his life, but Aussie sensation Alex de Minaur now faces his toughest test yet, taking on seventh seed and 2014 US Open champ Marin Cilic with a place in the final 16 on the line.
Join The Roar for live scores and minute-by-minute updates from around 10:30am (AEST).
De Minaur isn’t the first Australian teenager to take the tennis world by storm – Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic both reached Grand Slam quarter-finals fresh off the juniors circuit – but something feels different about this latest prodigy down under.
His rise in 2018 has been as rapid as it has been unexpected – after finishing 2017 ranked outside the world’s top 200, the part-Spaniard has climbed the ladder at breakneck speed to world No.37, including a narrow loss to fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev in a pulsating Washington Open final in August.
His run at Flushing Meadows has been no less impressive, his booming forehand and speed around the court too much for Japan’s Taro Daniel before proving too strong for hometown hero Frances Tiafoe, who himself knocked out 29th seed Adrian Mannarino in the first round.
His opponent, Croatian veteran Marin Cilic, has come off the boil slightly since a run to the Australian Open final in January propelled him to world No.3, but his stunning triumph at this tournament in 2014 proves he is as comfortable in New York as anyone.
He is more than a match for de Minaur in the power stakes, so the Aussie will need to be at his best defensively to be a chance.
Prediction
De Minaur is in superb touch and can certainly trouble the Croatian, but Cilic’s thunderous serve and extra power should win him enough free points to bring the “Demon” down.
Cilic in four sets
Tune into The Roar’s live blog of this third round clash, and remember to leave us a comment in the section below.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Awesome effort from de Minaur. Got on top early and then kept fighting, even when that fifth set looked over. Would have loved to see him get the win, but Cilic just too good in the end.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks to Tim for covering most of this match and for joining The Roar for our live coverage of the US Open. We will be back throughout the course of the week with more tennis. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that was absolutely amazing. Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, MARIN CILIC After four hours, at 2am in the morning and after saving seven match points, Alex De Minaur's fight finally comes to an end as he gets ran off the court with Cilic putting a ball away to the corner. What an incredible match that was. Absolutely one of the best you'll see. De Minaur is a star in the making, but in the end, the seventh seed has what it takes to get the job done. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 Cilic 4 3 6 6 7
Scott Pryde
Expert
He saves a SEVENTH match point. This is getting unbelievable. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - 15 Cilic 4 3 6 6 6 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
De Minaur now goes for the corner on a forehand. It's called in, challenged, and it was out. Three more match points. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - 0 Cilic 4 3 6 6 6 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
De Minaur now sends a forehand wide after a pretty good return towards the baseline. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - 0 Cilic 4 3 6 6 6 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
De Minaur serving to stay in the match again. Longer point here, but Cilic eventually opens up the court and nails a forehand down the line. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - 0 Cilic 4 3 6 6 6 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cilic holds to love as De Minaur flattens a backhand into the top of the net. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - Cilic 4 3 6 6 6 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Cilic fires a bomb down the T. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - 0 Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cilic up to the net this time and he plays the drop half volley for the winner. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - 0 Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cilic to serve. Can he claw some momentum back? Starts with one to the forehand wing and De Minaur returns long. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - 15 Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Long, long rally now. De Minaur keeps slicing with depth though and Cilic eventually flattens one out into the net! WOW OH WOW! We are level in the fifth. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 5 - Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve out wide, kicking away from Cilic who returns the forehand out of play. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 4 - 30 Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Lovely drop shot from Cilic this time. He had De Minaur on the ropes around the back of the court, then dropped it over, spinning away from the Aussie. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 4 - 30 Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Better hitting that time from Cilic. He returns serve, then nails a forehand up the line. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 4 - 30 Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
And another. Wide serve, Cilic returns into the net with a backhand! De Minaur 6 6 3 4 4 - 30 Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Hi all, This is incredible! De Minaur now grabs the first point on serve. De Minaur 6 6 3 4 4 - 15 Cilic 4 3 6 6 5 - 0
Tim Miller
Editor
Well, I'll have to hand over here. Scott Pryde will take you through the final stages of this gripping match. Cheers, Scotty!
Tim Miller
Editor
GAME, BREAK DE MINAUR de Minaur 6 6 3 4 4 Cilic 3 4 6 6 5 de Minaur breaks! Cilic sends a forehand wide, and the Demon, from nothing, breaks back! What have we just witnessed?