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Feb/14

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Biofile: Marin Cilic Interview

cilicwin
Status: ATP #29. Winner of eleven career ATP singles titles, including Delray Beach Open by The Venetian Las Vegas.

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 180

DOB: September 29, 1988 In: Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Who is your tennis inspiration? “Of course Goran Ivanisevic, he was a national hero when I was growing up. He also helped me a lot during when he was finishing his career, and when I was just 14-15, just coming up. He was a really big help for my tennis.”

Your first tennis memory? “When I was in Germany, I went to Germany when I was seven. There I played with my cousin, her name is Tanja. And she was also one of the first ones to teach me how to play, as she was playing before. So she encouraged me to start. I enjoy to play tennis from that time.”

What are your favorite movies? “Action and comedy. I like Braveheart, Deja Vu and Lord of The Rings.”

Your musical tastes? “Croatian music, R&B, hip-hop, some pop, AC/DC and Linkin Park.”

Favorite web sites? “Mostly sport web sites in Croatia.”

Favorite meal and ice cream flavor? “Mom’s kitchen [smiles], meat and potatoes. Chocolate ice cream.”

What has been your greatest sports moment so far? “Participating at the (Beijing) Olympics for the first time (d. Monaco in three sets then lost to Gonzalez 4-6 2-6 in R32). Also defeating the United States in the Davis Cup in Croatia (July 2009). Reaching semifinals of Australian Open and the second week of Wimbledon and U.S. Open.”

Your most painful tennis moment? “Haven’t met that so far [smiles].”

Did you have an embarrassing tennis memory? “Tough moment was when I played first time in Croatia Davis Cup with Nalbandian (2006). That was pretty rough. In front of the full stadium. So I lost pretty badly.”

Your favorite tournaments? “I like Queens a lot. And I like also Zagreb in Croatia.”

Closest friends from the ATP Tour? “I like to hang out with Mischa Zverev, Robin Haase, those are the guys I know from juniors. Of course, Croatian guys – Ancic, Karanusic, Karlovic, all those guys.”

Funniest ATP players? “Well, Ljubicic is funny off the court. The foreigners – I’m not sure. Didn’t get to know them too friendly yet.”

Who are your favorite tennis players to watch now? “Federer, a lot.”

What are the people qualities you admire most? “Honest. Like friendship. People who appreciate other people.”

13 comments

  • Abe Froman · February 25, 2014 at 9:27 am

    another juicer !…..that whole region is definitely shady (former-yugo / eastern block)

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 25, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    If he is then it’s highly unlikely he’s the only one. He’s a solid strong player, excellent technique, form, court demeanor, winner of eleven titles. Croatian players have been very solid competitors, when all is said and done Cilic could be the best of them all. I hope Goran can keep improving Cilic’s serve.

  • Mitch · February 25, 2014 at 10:31 pm

    If Cilic was actually a serious doper, he probably wouldn’t have gotten caught. If a player at his level and of his wealth is juicing, his team will probably be sophisticated enough to make sure that he doesn’t fail a drug test. I would also expect him to be caught taking something more serious than what’s available in an over-the-counter supplement.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 26, 2014 at 7:41 am

    But Mitch a lot of caught athletes blame the over the counter stuff, Roy Jones got caught for steroids by the Indiana Commission and actually gave two excuses to the media for the steroids – Ripped Fuel a muscle builder from GNC and also a nasal decongestant. Two silly excuses to cover up his positive test which the Indiana Commissioner confirmed to be by phone was a positive test by Roy Jones for steroids. So anybody can say anything. Who knows the truth. There are three sides to every story.

  • Abe Froman · February 26, 2014 at 10:47 am

    IMO…the powers that be in tennis should either legalize juicing and dont regulate the players at all or on the flipside – test them more frequently and punish them more seriously (ie, before and after each tourna, 1-yr+ suspension, etc.)…they shouldnt continue with this half-azz juicing policy….can you imagine rafa’s legacy and all of the other players he affected (esp. federer) ?…if rafa decides to pull an agassi and write an expose of his juiced up career after it’s all said and done with…..the GOAT designation has been debatable because of the skewed H2H with fed and not just counting the slams….how many slam finals oould have, would have, should have gone fed’s way then…

  • EddietheEagle · February 26, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    Cilic took Coramine out of competition where it isn’t banned but is considered performance-enhancing enough to carry the mandatory 2 year ban if caught in competition, which he was, just. Coramine packets carry a clear “dopage” warning to athletes which, by Cilic’s own account, he failed to understand because his schoolboy knowledge of French wasn’t good enough. That’s what he told the anti-doping tribunal anyway, and they promptly swallowed his fishy tale, hook, line and sinker despite Cilic being a resident of French-speaking Monaco.

    If Cilic was brazen enough to do this in training – take a known stimulant banned in competition – when it’s obvious he thought he wasn’t going to be caught, then I think it can be reasonably suspected that more serious, heavier breaches of the anti-doping code are occurring in more surreptitious manner.

    Torri Edwards the U.S. sprinter served a 2 year ban for exactly the same offence and in similar circumstances as Cilic who can therefore count himself a lucky man.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 26, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Eddie the Eagle knows a lot of details )

  • Abe Froman · February 27, 2014 at 9:43 am

    mazel tov eddie…..bring all of the juicers out into the front ! IMO, most of these sprites (esp. the top 10) are juicing hardcore….”ludicrous speed !…go !!” LOL

  • EddietheEagle · February 27, 2014 at 4:14 pm

    Nah, Scoop, just an anorak (U.S. geek?) who happens to read the odd ITF anti-doping or CAS tribunal case report. Plus heard a thing or two from those with noses closer to the ground, as presumably, we all have.

    Delray Beach sounds like a good excuse for a visit to Florida.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 27, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    Well done EE, appreciate your inputs. And you are right, Delray is a fantastic event and the town is also simply wonderful.

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