Cilic: "Alcaraz's game is a gift and, at the same time, a curse"

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During a morning stroll at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, it's impossible not to stop and admire the spectacle on Court 6. In the foreground stands the imposing Marin Cilic (Medjugorje, 1988) with his almost two meters tall and the academic tennis that has made him a legend. While the Croatian practices his serve and forehand, his two young sons – Vito and Baldo – try to emulate him from the back of the court, generating even more excitement than the training of the US Open champion. The scene is endearing, quickly reflecting that the former world No. 3 is now experiencing a completely different stage in his life.

'Find me at the restaurant after lunch,' Marin tells me after practice when I ask him about the possibility of doing an interview. And there I am, surprised to see that it is Cilic himself who comes looking for me to fulfill the second part of the deal. Calm, friendly, and very aware of his current situation – now outside the top 100 and competing on the Challenger circuit – what the Croatian hasn't lost is the enthusiasm to rise again, not bothered that he'll blow out 37 candles in September. Standing in front of one of the best players of the 21st century, it only takes me a couple of minutes to realize that I am also in the presence of an exceptional human being.

Murcia, Girona, Menorca, and Madrid. It's clear you love Spain.

I love it, it's the truth. I have played the Madrid Masters 1000 for many years, also the Barcelona ATP 500, in addition to some Davis Cup ties in Malaga and Madrid. Spain is possibly the country with the greatest sporting tradition in the world, with great athletes in all disciplines. I love the culture here, the way things are done and the respect they have for all athletes. It has been a pleasure to have played in these recent tournaments; I'm a big fan.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cilic: “El juego de Alcaraz es un regalo y, al mismo tiempo, una maldición”