Marin Cilic uses power game to overwhelm No. 5 Andrey Rublev in third round of Australian Open

Marin Cilic put on a relentless display of power hitting to overwhelm world No. 5 Andrey Rublev in the third round of the Australian Open, and then warned his rivals that he can still beat anyone in the big tournaments. Cilic bounced back from a wobble in the third set to beat Rublev 7-5, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3, using his 24th ace to convert his first match point and move into the second week.

Ad/> Cilic never allowed Rublev to find his rhythm in the first two sets and looked to be headed for a dominant victory when he broke for a 2-1 lead in the third. The former US Open champion, who reached the Australian Open final in 2018, then missed two break points to go 4-1 up – and that created a major momentum shift as Rublev suddenly came roaring back. /> Australian Open‘It reminded me of the US Open in 2014’ – Mischa Zverev sees title-winning characteristics in Cilic23 MINUTES AGO The Russian then reeled off two straight breaks of his own to fight his way back into the match.

But Cilic never wavered in the fourth set. He broke for a 3-1 lead when Rublev missed a forehand and never gave his opponent another chance for a comeback. /> It was a performance that signalled that Cilic is once again a force to be reckoned with after failing to get past the third round in any of the four Grand Slam tournaments last year, when he lost in the first round in Melbourne.

“I’m getting there. Obviously today’s match was an incredible level, and I played from the start to the finish with great excitement," Cilic told Eurosport. «And that’s the way to go against these guys, especially Andrey, who is lining up a lot of the balls and if you’re playing a bit too passive it’s going to be a difficult day.