Croatian Marin Cilic Wins US Open Tennis Title

Marin Cilic of Croatia won the U.S. Open men’s tennis championship Monday.

Cilic won a Grand Slam title for the first time in his career, defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan in straight sets in Flushing Meadows, New York, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

This was the first time either man had played in a Grand Slam final, and it was the first time the men’s U.S. Open final featured two players seeded 10th or lower. Nishikori was the 10th seed and Cilic was seeded 14th.

To reach the final, Cilic upset five-time U.S. Open champion Roger Federer of Switzerland in straight sets. Nishikori, the first Asian-born male to reach a Grand Slam final, knocked off world No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in Saturday’s other semifinal.

Cilic takes home $3 million in prize money for his victory. Nishikori won nearly $1.5 million.

The women’s U.S. Open championship was decided Sunday, with American Serena Williams winning for a third consecutive time, beating Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark (6-3, 6-3).

Cilic was unable to play in the U.S. Open last year because of a four-month doping suspension. He ingested Coramine glucose tablets purchased by someone from his team that contained a banned substance. He was originally suspended for nine months, but that was cut by more than half after he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It determined that “the degree of fault committed by the athlete was inferior” to the sanction imposed.

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