US Open: Cilic & Vekic into the 3rd round
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Marin Cilic (Photo credit: Mario Ćužić/HTS)
NEW YORK, 30 August 2019 – Croatian players Donna Vekic and Marin Cilic have joined Petra Martic in the 3rd round at the US Open after victories overnight at Flushing Meadows.
23rd seed Vekic had a straight sets win over Estonian Kaia Kanepi, 7-5, 6-3. Vekic hit 2 aces and won almost 70% of points on her first serve to brush past the dangerous Kanepi. Vekic will now meet Yulia Putintseva in the 3rd round.
Donna Vekić (Photo credit: Mario Ćužić/HTS)
Meanwhile, Cilic had a tougher 2nd round battle against world No. 256 German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe. The 22nd seed Croatia was broken twice in the opening set to go down 1-0.
Cilic found his groove in the second set and took it 6-3, before winning the next two sets to take the match in three hours, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.
Cilic struggled with his serve early on, double-faulting six times and only hitting one ace with just a 36 percent first serve record. Cilic ended the match with only 55 percent of his first serves going in.
The Croatia will meet American John Isner in the third round, which promises to be a big match between two big guys with big serves.
