WIMBLEDON, England — Marin Cilic has come much closer than most to defeating Roger Federer on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
Last year, in the quarterfinals, Cilic had three match points in the fourth set before Federer found a way to wriggle free and rally for a 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-3 victory.
“Marin had him on the ropes,” said Mario Ancic, Cilic’s friend and fellow Croat, who helped coach Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon this year.
Putting Federer back in so vulnerable a position should be quite a bit trickier for Cilic on Sunday when the two meet again on Centre Court, this time in the Wimbledon final.