Yet again, the Australian summer has been a bummer for gutted Marinko Matosevic.

But as he exits the Australian Open playing catch-up, he believes he is getting closer to cracking the code to the big points that continue to elude him in his home country.

In his fourth Australian Open, Matosevic bowed out on Tuesday as he has the previous three – in the first round.

This time it was to 12th seeded Croatian Marin Cilic 6-4 7-5 6-2 – a difficult opponent whom Matosevic pressed hard but lifted on the points that mattered.

Matosevic had break points in the first and third sets, and a set point in the second, but was unable to capitalise.

And it hurt.

“Same s**t summer. Now I’ll just have to do what I did in 2012,” Matosevic said.

“I finished top 50 after going out in straight sets last summer, and I’ve gone out in straight sets this summer.

“I felt like definitely the first two sets and the start of the third I was the better player. But I was two sets to love down and then all of a sudden a break down (in the third)

“It was so disheartening out there not being able to get the break points. I can’t believe I’m off the court in straight sets.”

Matosevic put aside his bad start to last year to come from outside the world’s top 200 to make the top 50 by year’s end.

But the 27-year-old hopes that he can win Davis Cup selection for the tie against Taiwan next month to kick-start his year.

“I feel like I’m close. I thought I had all the chances,” he said.

“It just comes down to a few points here and there. I’ll speak to my coach, my team, (Davis Cup captain Pat) Rafter and Rochey (Tennis Australia’s Tony Roche), and see what happens from there.”