Aussie-basher Cilic knocks out Popyrin in Dubai Champs
Australia's top two tennis men have both been sent packing from the Dubai Championships -- by a veteran champ who less than two years ago had feared his career might be ended by his battle with knee injuries.
On Tuesday, Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, had caused his first shock at the UAE tournament by beating world No.8 Alex de Minaur in three sets.
Not content with that, the 36-year-old Croat re-emerged on Wednesday to end the last-16 hopes of Aussie No.2 Alexei Popyrin, coming from a set down to prevail 5-7 6-3 6-4.
Leaving it all on the court 🎾An incredible second set performance @cilic_marin @DDFTennis | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/nJY2JTkBMx
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 26, 2025
It was a deflating end to Popyrin's hopes of a confidence-boosting run at an ATP tournament after failing to win a match in any of his first four events of an injury and illness-hit early-season campaign.
The world No.27 had accounted for Lebanese Hady Habib in his opening round and things looked to be going smoothly enough when he broke Cilic's delivery at the end of their first set to take early control.
But just as de Minaur had discovered 24 hours earlier, a rejuvenated Cilic, who's somehow producing some of his vintage best after years of debilitating injury struggles, is still a force to be reckoned with, his world ranking of 186 proving wholly illusory.
Flipping the script 🎭From a 5-7 start to a 6-3, 6-4 comeback win, Cilic defeats Popyrin and books his quarter-finals spot!@cilic_marin | @DDFTennis | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/AN1NeMnQAo
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 26, 2025
The Croat, who underwent knee surgery in May last year and returned four months later as the world No.777 to win the Hangzhou Open, becoming the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history, continues to roll back the years.
Striking the ball with all his old power, he hit back in the second set against Popyrin, having survived a couple of break points at 2-2 and then breaking the big-serving Aussie in the sixth game.
Then in the decider, his serve was unchallenged throughout the stanza while he again relentlessly picked off Popyrin to break in the fifth game, which was to prove decisive.
It set Cilic up with a quarter-final against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who had earlier defeated Portugal's Nuno Borges 4-6 6-3 7-5.
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