Internet Desk: Little known Jozef Kovalik caused the biggest upset of the Chennai Open as he knocked out world number six and tournament-favourite Marin Cilic in a gripping pre-quarterfinal, on Wednesday.
Qualifier Kovalik, winner of just two Challenger titles in his career, was up against a Grand Slam winner but made Cilic’s life as tough as possible with his never-say-die spirit and in the end was a proud winner.
Kovalik, ranked 117, showed nerves of steel in a hard-earned 7-6(5) 5-7 7-5 win over the ‘rusty’ top seed.
Cilic, who ended the 2016 season with a career-best rank of six, was pushed by the Slovakian in two hours and 48 minute match and was rewarded with the biggest win of his career.
The 24-year-old Slovak refused to be in awe of a superior opponent and impressed with his ground-strokes. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain as he threw everything back at Cilic, who has won this tournament twice (2009, 2010).
Kovalik next faces Daniil Medvedev, who shocked eighth seed Yen-Hsun Lu 6-4 6-3 in his second round.
It is first time since 2010 that a top seed has lost his first match after Robin Soderling had lost to Robby Ginepri.
The Slovak said it was hard to believe that he has won against a top guy but it gives him confidence that he can match them.
“It’s a new experience for me to beat a top guy. This is the best match I have played in my career. Now I know that I can beat them. I have seen him playing on TV on big centre courts. He had never seen me so it was good and also it was first match for him of the season and I had played three matches already,” Kovalik said after his superb win.
Asked when he thought that he could beat Cilic, Kovalik said with a big smile, “The last moment when I beat him.”
“I tried to win each point. I tried to move him and was focused on the job.”
Talking about his strategy, he said, “There could not be one. It changes against big guys.”
Cilic looked a bit rusty at the start as it took him almost 10 minutes to hold the first service game in which he saved a breakpoint and fought off five deuce points. He eventually sealed it with an ace.
Kovalik impressed with his ground-strokes, specially backhand, retrieving ability and the court coverage. He managed to stretch points by engaging Cilic in rallies.
The Slovakian too faced two early breakpoints when he hit a double-handed backhand long, but saved both, first with a backhand winner and next with a forehand winner.