Marin Cilic’s miserable record at the ATP Finals has continued as he was beaten 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1) by Alexander Zverev in London.
Almost a year to the day since Zverev marked his debut in the season-ending showpiece by toppling the big-serving Croat, the 21-year-old Zverev again prevailed in a scrappy contest to take his career record over Cilic to 6-1.
World No.5 Zverev had to fight for the first set lead as he trailed 3-0 before breaking back to level at 5-5 with an ace and stealing the first set in the tie-break with a powerful backhand pass.
Cilic saved a match point at 5-4 in the second set, but he unfolded with more errors in another tie-break as Zverev wrapped up the win with an overwhelming serve in two hours and six minutes.
The 30-year-old Croatian will regret that first set after he handed Zverev the opportunity to level the match after conceding a break at 5-3 with a double-fault.
Three errors from the 30-year-old Croatian then afforded Zverev a 5-2 gap in the tie-break, allowing him to cap the first set on an outstanding winner.
In the second set, Zverev earned a match point at 5-4 with a whipped reflex return from Cilic’s first serve, which Cilic quickly erased with a strong serve and smash.
However, Cilic capitulated in the second tie-break as Zverev ran rampant towards his second ATP Finals win over the same man.
It was Zverev’s 55th match win of the year, more than any other player on the tour.
Later in the Gustavo Kuerten group, world No.1 Novak Djokovic takes on American debutant John Isner.