If Andy Murray was grateful to Marin Cilic for facilitating his rise to the summit this month it was not evident as he added the Croatian to his lengthening list of victims at the ATP World Tour Finals on Monday.

It was Cilic&#39;s defeat of Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters that opened the door for Murray to seize the number one ranking he had spent his whole career pursuing.

Murray repaid the favour with a 6-3, 6-2 win, his 20th in succession, although it was far from a drubbing as Cilic tried his utmost to ruin&nbsp;Scot&#39;s homecoming.

Four more performances like that at the O2 Arena this week should guarantee the 29-year-old will end 2016 leading the pack.

Murray had lost his most recent meeting with Cilic, the Cincinnati Masters final in August, and on Wednesday he will face Japan&#39;s Kei Nishikori who stopped him in the US&nbsp;Open quarter-finals, Murray&#39;s last Tour level defeat.

Nishikori had earlier beaten Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-2 6-3 in the John McEnroe group, although that match was as one-sided as the scoreline suggested with Wawrinka badly off key.

Murray has been handed a tougher-looking group than Novak Djokovic, the man he deposed and who could still snatch back the top ranking, but he cleared the first hurdle in style in front of a near full house who welcomed him home like a returning hero.

&quot;It was a great reception,&quot; Murray, Britain&#39;s first ATP singles world number one, told reporters.

&quot;After a long kind of few months, it&#39;s nice to know that I&#39;m going to be finishing the year playing in that sort of atmosphere. It helps you get up for the matches a bit more.&quot;

Murray served four double faults in the early stages and came under a fierce assault by Cilic.

But in his first match since officially taking over at the top, he showed all the attributes that have made him all but unbeatable since his French Open final loss to Djokovic.

Even when Cilic cancelled out an early break Murray responded immediately to move 3-1 ahead.

He conjured an ace to stave off a break point in the next game and eventually took a high-quality opener in 45 minutes.

Cilic had chances again at the start of the second set but it was Murray who struck in the fifth game with a blistering forehand winner. Murray then put the hammer down.

&quot;A little bit unfortunate to go 6-3, 6-2, it felt it was much, much closer in the first set, beginning of the second,&quot; Cilic, who will play Wawrinka on Wednesday, told reporters.

Wawrinka will have to improve considerably.

The US&nbsp;Open champion sprayed more than 30 unforced errors against Nishikori in a disappointingly one-sided clash.

Wawrinka tried to pump himself up at the start of the second set, delivering a couple of signature backhands, but he looked a shadow of the player who claimed a third grand slam title by beating Djokovic in New York in September.

&quot;I thought I could play at a better level today. I was expecting a good match. Didn&#39;t happen today,&quot; Wawrinka said.

(Reuters)

Andy Murray beat the Croatian 6-3, 6-2 at the ATP World Tour Finals on Monday

If Andy Murray was grateful to Marin Cilic for facilitating his rise to the summit this month it was not evident as he added the Croatian to his lengthening list of victims at the ATP World Tour Finals on Monday. It was Cilic's defeat of Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters that opened the door for Murray to seize the number one ranking he had spent his whole career pursuing. Murray repaid the favour with a 6-3, 6-2 win, his 20th in succession, although it was far from a drubbing as Cilic tried his utmost to ruin Scot's homecoming. Four more performances like that at the O2 Arena this week should guarantee the 29-year-old will end 2016 leading the pack. Murray had lost his most recent meeting with Cilic, the Cincinnati Masters final in August, and on Wednesday he will face Japan's Kei Nishikori who stopped him in the US Open quarter-finals, Murray's last Tour level defeat. Nishikori had earlier beaten Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-2 6-3 in the John McEnroe group, although that match was as one-sided as the scoreline suggested with Wawrinka badly off key. Murray has been handed a tougher-looking group than Novak Djokovic, the man he deposed and who could still snatch back the top ranking, but he cleared the first hurdle in style in front of a near full house who welcomed him home like a returning hero. "It was a great reception," Murray, Britain's first ATP singles world number one, told reporters. "After a long kind of few months, it's nice to know that I'm going to be finishing the year playing in that sort of atmosphere. It helps you get up for the matches a bit more." Murray served four double faults in the early stages and came under a fierce assault by Cilic. But in his first match since officially taking over at the top, he showed all the attributes that have made him all but unbeatable since his French Open final loss to Djokovic. Even when Cilic cancelled out an early break Murray responded immediately to move 3-1 ahead. He conjured an ace to stave off a break point in the next game and eventually took a high-quality opener in 45 minutes. Cilic had chances again at the start of the second set but it was Murray who struck in the fifth game with a blistering forehand winner. Murray then put the hammer down. "A little bit unfortunate to go 6-3, 6-2, it felt it was much, much closer in the first set, beginning of the second," Cilic, who will play Wawrinka on Wednesday, told reporters. Wawrinka will have to improve considerably. The US Open champion sprayed more than 30 unforced errors against Nishikori in a disappointingly one-sided clash. Wawrinka tried to pump himself up at the start of the second set, delivering a couple of signature backhands, but he looked a shadow of the player who claimed a third grand slam title by beating Djokovic in New York in September. "I thought I could play at a better level today. I was expecting a good match. Didn't happen today," Wawrinka said. (Reuters)

Returning hero Murray masters Cilic, Nishikori wins

Former US Open champ Marin Cilic snapped Andy Murray&#39;s 22 match win streak on Sunday to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 title with a 6-4, 7-5 win at the Cincinnati tournament. 
 
The 94-minute victory for the 27-year-old Croatian marked a career breakthrough as he earned his first Masters title on his 71st career attempt. 
 
&quot;This week is going to be remembered, it&#39;s really, really something special,&quot; said Cilic, who had seven aces and broke Murray three times. 
 
&quot;I look forward to the US Open in a couple of weeks. I hope we can continue with good form.&quot; 
 
Cilic accomplished the feat on little rest, as he did not leave the court after his semifinal win over Grigor Dimitrov until 2:00 am on Sunday morning due to rain delays. 
 
Olympic silver medalist Angelique Kerber lost to Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-1 in the women&#39;s final of the joint WTA-ATP tournament. 
 
The defeat ended Kerber&#39;s chances of replacing Serena Williams as the No. 1 ranked player in the world. 
 
It was the German&#39;s the second defeat in a final in just over a week after losing to Monica Puig in the gold medal Rio match. 
 
&quot;I tried my best, but sometimes you have days where it&#39;s not working so good,&quot; Kerber said. 
 
Cincinnati is only Cilic&#39;s second title since winning the US Open two years ago. 
 
Murray has been on a tear this season, winning grass titles at Queen&#39;s and Wimbledon before triumphing a week ago over Juan Martin del Potro at the Olympic final. 
 
But the accumulation of tennis finally proved to be too much for the Scot, who played his 14th match in 15 days dating back to the Games. 
 
Cilic&#39;s win was his third against 11 losses to Murray. He is the lowest-ranked Cincinnati champion since number 17 Carlos Moya in 2002. 
 
Momentum mounted for Pliskova on a sunny day as she lifted the trophy after hitting 24 winners. 
 
&quot;The match was not as easy as the score looked. I think she might be a little bit tired or she felt a little bit of pressure on herself,&quot; Pliskova said. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m really happy with my game today. I was playing aggressive almost without mistakes. There was not one thing what I would change in this match.&quot; 
 
The Czech, who now owns seven career titles and stands 3-4 against Kerber, claimed the opening set in 32 minutes and needed 62 minutes in total to complete her role as spoiler. 
 
Pliskova is the first Czech to win the Cincinnati trophy. She finished with seven aces and five breaks of Kerber. 
 
She earned her second title of the season after claiming the honours in June on grass at the Aegon Open in Great Britain and is predicted to rise to 11th in the world. 
 
Kerber fell into a 5-1 deficit in the second set after a double-fault. Pliskova served out the biggest win of her career a game later on a second match point. 
 
Kerber is looking forward to the US Open which begins in eight days. 
 
&quot;This season I won my first grand slam, everything what&#39;s happened in the last months is just incredible. I&#39;m trying to enjoy it,&quot; she said. 
 
&quot;Some days you&#39;re losing matches, some days you win. I&#39;ll try to take the positive things from the match and from the last few weeks to New York,&quot; she said in reference to the upcoming US Open, the year&#39;s final Grand Slam Tournament. 
 
(AFP)

The 94-minute victory for the 27-year-old Croatian marked a career breakthrough as he earned his first Masters title in his 71st attempt

Former US Open champ Marin Cilic snapped Andy Murray's 22 match win streak on Sunday to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 title with a 6-4, 7-5 win at the Cincinnati tournament. The 94-minute victory for the 27-year-old Croatian marked a career breakthrough as he earned his first Masters title on his 71st career attempt. "This week is going to be remembered, it's really, really something special," said Cilic, who had seven aces and broke Murray three times. "I look forward to the US Open in a couple of weeks. I hope we can continue with good form." Cilic accomplished the feat on little rest, as he did not leave the court after his semifinal win over Grigor Dimitrov until 2:00 am on Sunday morning due to rain delays. Olympic silver medalist Angelique Kerber lost to Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-1 in the women's final of the joint WTA-ATP tournament. The defeat ended Kerber's chances of replacing Serena Williams as the No. 1 ranked player in the world. It was the German's the second defeat in a final in just over a week after losing to Monica Puig in the gold medal Rio match. "I tried my best, but sometimes you have days where it's not working so good," Kerber said. Cincinnati is only Cilic's second title since winning the US Open two years ago. Murray has been on a tear this season, winning grass titles at Queen's and Wimbledon before triumphing a week ago over Juan Martin del Potro at the Olympic final. But the accumulation of tennis finally proved to be too much for the Scot, who played his 14th match in 15 days dating back to the Games. Cilic's win was his third against 11 losses to Murray. He is the lowest-ranked Cincinnati champion since number 17 Carlos Moya in 2002. Momentum mounted for Pliskova on a sunny day as she lifted the trophy after hitting 24 winners. "The match was not as easy as the score looked. I think she might be a little bit tired or she felt a little bit of pressure on herself," Pliskova said. "I'm really happy with my game today. I was playing aggressive almost without mistakes. There was not one thing what I would change in this match." The Czech, who now owns seven career titles and stands 3-4 against Kerber, claimed the opening set in 32 minutes and needed 62 minutes in total to complete her role as spoiler. Pliskova is the first Czech to win the Cincinnati trophy. She finished with seven aces and five breaks of Kerber. She earned her second title of the season after claiming the honours in June on grass at the Aegon Open in Great Britain and is predicted to rise to 11th in the world. Kerber fell into a 5-1 deficit in the second set after a double-fault. Pliskova served out the biggest win of her career a game later on a second match point. Kerber is looking forward to the US Open which begins in eight days. "This season I won my first grand slam, everything what's happened in the last months is just incredible. I'm trying to enjoy it," she said. "Some days you're losing matches, some days you win. I'll try to take the positive things from the match and from the last few weeks to New York," she said in reference to the upcoming US Open, the year's final Grand Slam Tournament. (AFP)

Tennis: Cilic snaps Murray's 22-match win streak, claims Cincinnati title

Jack Sock rallied to stun Marin Cilic 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday and put the United States on the road to a 2-0 lead over Croatia in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final tie. 
 
The triumph for the 26th-ranked Sock over world number 12 Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, was followed by American John Isner&#39;s 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Borna Coric. 
 
The formidable doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan can clinch the best-of-five match tie on the outdoor hardcourt at Tualtin Hills Tennis Club in Portland, Oregon, today. 
 
Croatians Ivan Dodig and Marin Draganja are slated to take on the brothers, trying to push things to the reverse singles on Sunday. 
 
Sock fired 17 aces against Cilic, who came into the tie trying to put behind him a five-set quarter-final loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon. 
 
But having forced a decisive fifth set, the American surrendered an early break that appeared to set Cilic on his way. 
 
Sock, however, broke back in the fifth game, and while he couldn&#39;t convert three break points in the seventh, he gained the last break he needed in the ninth, when Cilic sent a high backhand volley wide. 
 
&quot;A little bit disappointing with that, just to lose that opportunity of getting that lead in the fifth set,&quot; Cilic said. &quot;When I gave him a chance to come back I felt that he started to play also really well.&quot; 
 
Sock got a little shaky serving it out, double-faulting twice before surviving two break points to seal the match after three hours and 13 minutes. 
 
&quot;I haven&#39;t played a ton of five-setters in my career,&quot; said Sock, who was playing his first Davis Cup match on home soil. 
 
&quot;Haven&#39;t come back from two sets to love down. To do that today, in front of the home crowd for the team, it feels extra special today.&quot; 
 
Isner, ranked 16th in the world, fired 23 aces and fended off all eight break points he faced in a match lasting just under two hours. 
 
Having withstood 54th-ranked Coric&#39;s early assault on his serve, which included break points in six of Isner&#39;s first seven service games, Isner broke the Croatian in the final game of each of the first two sets to take a comfortable lead. 
 
After breaking to lead 3-1 in the third, Isner stayed the course, finishing off the match with a final ace. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re up 2-0, we&#39;re in a good spot,&quot; Isner said. 
 
While the United States are the most successful Davis Cup nation ever, with 32 titles, they were ousted in the first round the past two years by Britain. 
 
They last played in the semi-finals in 2012, when they fell 3-1 at Spain. 
 
The winners of the best-of-five match tie will take on either the Czech Republic or France in the semi-finals. 
 
The Czechs and French were tied 1-1 after the opening day of their tie in Prague. 
 
(AFP)

While the US are the most successful Davis Cup nation ever, with 32 titles, they were ousted in the first round the past 2 years by Britain

Jack Sock rallied to stun Marin Cilic 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday and put the United States on the road to a 2-0 lead over Croatia in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final tie. The triumph for the 26th-ranked Sock over world number 12 Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, was followed by American John Isner's 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Borna Coric. The formidable doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan can clinch the best-of-five match tie on the outdoor hardcourt at Tualtin Hills Tennis Club in Portland, Oregon, today. Croatians Ivan Dodig and Marin Draganja are slated to take on the brothers, trying to push things to the reverse singles on Sunday. Sock fired 17 aces against Cilic, who came into the tie trying to put behind him a five-set quarter-final loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon. But having forced a decisive fifth set, the American surrendered an early break that appeared to set Cilic on his way. Sock, however, broke back in the fifth game, and while he couldn't convert three break points in the seventh, he gained the last break he needed in the ninth, when Cilic sent a high backhand volley wide. "A little bit disappointing with that, just to lose that opportunity of getting that lead in the fifth set," Cilic said. "When I gave him a chance to come back I felt that he started to play also really well." Sock got a little shaky serving it out, double-faulting twice before surviving two break points to seal the match after three hours and 13 minutes. "I haven't played a ton of five-setters in my career," said Sock, who was playing his first Davis Cup match on home soil. "Haven't come back from two sets to love down. To do that today, in front of the home crowd for the team, it feels extra special today." Isner, ranked 16th in the world, fired 23 aces and fended off all eight break points he faced in a match lasting just under two hours. Having withstood 54th-ranked Coric's early assault on his serve, which included break points in six of Isner's first seven service games, Isner broke the Croatian in the final game of each of the first two sets to take a comfortable lead. After breaking to lead 3-1 in the third, Isner stayed the course, finishing off the match with a final ace. "We're up 2-0, we're in a good spot," Isner said. While the United States are the most successful Davis Cup nation ever, with 32 titles, they were ousted in the first round the past two years by Britain. They last played in the semi-finals in 2012, when they fell 3-1 at Spain. The winners of the best-of-five match tie will take on either the Czech Republic or France in the semi-finals. The Czechs and French were tied 1-1 after the opening day of their tie in Prague. (AFP)

Davis Cup: Sock shocks Cilic, USA take 2-0 lead over Croatia

Roger Federer saved three match points to beat Marin Cilic 6-7 (4/7), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 and reach a record-equalling 11th Wimbledon semi-final. 
 
The 34-year-old seven-time champion also claimed a new record for Grand Slam match wins of 307 as he made a 40th semi-final at the majors. 
 
His dramatic triumph was his 84th win at Wimbledon taking him level with Jimmy Connors and gave him a semi-final against Canada&#39;s Milos Raonic as he continues his pursuit of an 18th Grand Slam title and a record eighth All England Club crown. 
 
In a thrilling Centre Court confrontation, it was Federer&#39;s 10th career comeback from two sets down. 
 
It was a tie which saw him save three match points in a titanic fourth set as Federer became the oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974. 
 
Federer fired 27 aces and 67 winners to avenge his semi-final loss to ninth seed Cilic in the semi-finals of the 2014 US Open. 
 
&quot;Marin is such a wonderful player and I knew I was in so much trouble in the third set and in the fourth,&quot; said Federer. 
 
&quot;I wasn&#39;t seeing his serves, he had one chance and took it and then I was down 2-0. He was playing very well and reading my serve and I couldn&#39;t read his.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I just tried to stay in the match and hoped for his level to drop and get a bit lucky. That happened and obviously the breaker was crazy.&quot; 
 
&quot;My legs and back were there and serving was key, plus mentally this will give me a hell of a boost.&quot; 
 
Federer carved out the only break points of the first set in the fifth game, both of which were saved by the giant Croatian. 
 
Serve dominated with the 27-year-old Cilic racing to a 5/0 lead in the tiebreaker and four set points soon after. 
 
Federer saved one but Cilic held his nerve to snatch the opener, leaving the Swiss facing the grim statistic that he&#39;d only taken one point off his opponent&#39;s first serve. 
 
His mood would have darkened knowing that he lost a set in which he had not faced a single break point. 
 
Cilic then showed him the way, breaking for a 2-1 lead and saving a break point in the fourth game when Federer dumped a return off a second serve into the net. 
 
Centre Court groaned when sentimental favourite Federer netted another routine backhand volley in the ninth game before two further uncharacteristic errors off the same wing in the 10th helped Cilic to a two sets lead. 
 
With his coach and 2001 champion Goran Ivanisevic looking on, Cilic looked to have Federer on the ropes, forcing the 17-time major champion into saving three break points in the seventh game of the third set. 
 
But Federer grabbed the lifeline when a fifth double fault by Cilic gave him a first break of the contest before the Swiss star unleashed a text-book backhand drive to secure the set in the next game. 
 
The fourth set, lasting just under an hour, veered from one drama to another. 
 
Cilic sent down his 19th and 20th aces of the afternoon to save break points in the fifth game. 
 
Federer then saved match point in the 10th game thanks to Cilic meekly going long on a return and another with his 18th ace in the 12th. 
 
The Swiss squandered two set points in the tiebreaker, the first with a ballooned forehand with the court at his mercy before he saved a third match point when Cilic netted a forehand of his own. 
 
Then it was Federer&#39;s turn to feel the pressure as two more set points came and went before Cilic played one loose forehand too many into the net and the semi-final was level. 
 
Federer had the momentum and broke for a 5-3 lead in the decider, racing to a famous victory with back-to-back aces. 
 
(AFP)

The 34-year-old seven-time champion also claimed a new record for Grand Slam match wins of 307 as he made a 40th semi-final at the majors

Roger Federer saved three match points to beat Marin Cilic 6-7 (4/7), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 and reach a record-equalling 11th Wimbledon semi-final. The 34-year-old seven-time champion also claimed a new record for Grand Slam match wins of 307 as he made a 40th semi-final at the majors. His dramatic triumph was his 84th win at Wimbledon taking him level with Jimmy Connors and gave him a semi-final against Canada's Milos Raonic as he continues his pursuit of an 18th Grand Slam title and a record eighth All England Club crown. In a thrilling Centre Court confrontation, it was Federer's 10th career comeback from two sets down. It was a tie which saw him save three match points in a titanic fourth set as Federer became the oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974. Federer fired 27 aces and 67 winners to avenge his semi-final loss to ninth seed Cilic in the semi-finals of the 2014 US Open. "Marin is such a wonderful player and I knew I was in so much trouble in the third set and in the fourth," said Federer. "I wasn't seeing his serves, he had one chance and took it and then I was down 2-0. He was playing very well and reading my serve and I couldn't read his. "I just tried to stay in the match and hoped for his level to drop and get a bit lucky. That happened and obviously the breaker was crazy." "My legs and back were there and serving was key, plus mentally this will give me a hell of a boost." Federer carved out the only break points of the first set in the fifth game, both of which were saved by the giant Croatian. Serve dominated with the 27-year-old Cilic racing to a 5/0 lead in the tiebreaker and four set points soon after. Federer saved one but Cilic held his nerve to snatch the opener, leaving the Swiss facing the grim statistic that he'd only taken one point off his opponent's first serve. His mood would have darkened knowing that he lost a set in which he had not faced a single break point. Cilic then showed him the way, breaking for a 2-1 lead and saving a break point in the fourth game when Federer dumped a return off a second serve into the net. Centre Court groaned when sentimental favourite Federer netted another routine backhand volley in the ninth game before two further uncharacteristic errors off the same wing in the 10th helped Cilic to a two sets lead. With his coach and 2001 champion Goran Ivanisevic looking on, Cilic looked to have Federer on the ropes, forcing the 17-time major champion into saving three break points in the seventh game of the third set. But Federer grabbed the lifeline when a fifth double fault by Cilic gave him a first break of the contest before the Swiss star unleashed a text-book backhand drive to secure the set in the next game. The fourth set, lasting just under an hour, veered from one drama to another. Cilic sent down his 19th and 20th aces of the afternoon to save break points in the fifth game. Federer then saved match point in the 10th game thanks to Cilic meekly going long on a return and another with his 18th ace in the 12th. The Swiss squandered two set points in the tiebreaker, the first with a ballooned forehand with the court at his mercy before he saved a third match point when Cilic netted a forehand of his own. Then it was Federer's turn to feel the pressure as two more set points came and went before Cilic played one loose forehand too many into the net and the semi-final was level. Federer had the momentum and broke for a 5-3 lead in the decider, racing to a famous victory with back-to-back aces. (AFP)

Comeback king Federer beats Cilic, reaches 11th Wimbledon semi-final

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Returning hero Murray masters Cilic, Nishikori wins

Tennis: Cilic snaps Murray's 22-match win streak, claims Cincinnati title

Davis Cup: Sock shocks Cilic, USA take 2-0 lead over Croatia

Comeback king Federer beats Cilic, reaches 11th Wimbledon semi-final