PHOTOS: Marin Cilic Gets Up Close with Christ the Redeemer in Rio

Marin Cilic visits Christ the Redeemer (Photo: Instagram)

Croatia No.1 and World No.3 tennis player Marin Cilic had the opportunity to get up close to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Cilic is in Rio de Janeiro for the ATP 2018 Rio Open where he is the top seed. With a bye in the first round, Cilic took the opportunity for some sight-seeing and visited the Christ the Redeemer statue.

“Such an incredible and humbling experience. Grateful,” Cilic said, posting photos on his Instagram account.

Cilic gets up close (Photo: Instagram)

Cilic is from the town of Medjugorje, which has been a place of Catholic pilgrimage since the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared on Apparition Hill in 1981.

Christ the Redeemer was created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built between 1922 and 1931, the statue is 98 ft tall, excluding its 26 ft pedestal. The arms stretch 92 ft wide.

A symbol of Christianity across the world, the statue has also become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil and is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Cilic took this photo from the top (Photo: Instagram)

Cilic, who had a fantastic start to the season by reaching the final of the Australian Open and jumping to a career-high ranking, will meet the winner of the Gael Monfis/Horacio Zeballos match in round two.