Would have Cilic beaten Djokovic in the final of US 2014, given he wouldn't lose in the semis to Nishikori?

skypadq

skypadq

Hall of Fame
I mean like okay, beating Federer was kind of a big deal, but then again, Djokovic is very bad match-up for Cilic way way worse, than Nishikori! So my question is do you believe he played good enough tennis to take out Djokovic in the final or you think, he kind of got lucky by facing Nishikori instead? To me that Cilic's single gs victory seemed too weak dunno...compared to the heroics of Juan Martin Del Potro back in 2009, when Federer fought not only for a record setting 6th consecutive US title, but also for an open era record 6th title overall! What do you think?
 
Gary Duane

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
skypadq said:
I mean like okay, beating Federer was kind of a big deal, but then again, Djokovic is very bad match-up for Cilic way way worse, than Nishikori! So my question is do you believe he played good enough tennis to take out Djokovic in the final or you think, he kind of got lucky by facing Nishikori instead? To me that Cilic's single gs victory seemed too weak dunno...compared to the heroics of Juan Martin Del Potro back in 2009, when Federer fought not only for a record setting 6th consecutive US title, but also for an open era record 6th title overall! What do you think?
Click to expand...
To me Cilic's win was one of the weakest ever, and that USO was for me the worst in probably 20 years or more.
 
ibbi

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Sure, if Djokovic was playing well enough to beat Nishikori then he might have been playing well enough to beat Cilic... :rolleyes: I mean in fantasy land he might have grown wings and flown to the stars too.

Cilic was in the zone through the second half of that tournament. Aside from his nightmare matchup with Simon (that was the first time he ever beat him if I recall rightly) he just destroyed everyone else. He found some level of form there he's never really come close to anywhere else. Nothing was normal that week.
 
junior74

junior74

Talk Tennis Guru
A confident Cilic can beat anyone. It looked like he played freely, and improved throughout the tournament.

Losing to Nishikori in a slam SF is a stat Novak doesn't share with anyone...
 
NoleFam

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
There was nothing weak about Cilic's win at all in my opinion. He manhandled both Federer and Nishikori and his form was just shocking. I don't see how that win is seen as weak with the level he played to win it. If Djokovic had made it to that match, it wouldn't have been a sure win with his record in finals and considering his form was below par.
 
ForehandRF

ForehandRF

Legend
I have never seen Fed blown off the court in such a fashion like in that match vs Cilic.
 
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NoleFam

NoleFam

Bionic Poster
junior74 said:
Losing to Nishikori in a slam SF is a stat Novak doesn't share with anyone...
Click to expand...

That's probably because Nishikori only has one Slam final in his career. Nishikori has some good scalps at the USO though defeating Djokovic, Murray and Cilic in big matches, and did it against Murray in his best season.
 
Pheasant

Pheasant

Legend
One thing that never gets mentioned is Nishikori's form. Nishikori knocked out three of the top 5 seeds in that tourney. That is extremely rare. He beat #5 Raonic in R16, #3 Stan in the QF, and #1 Djoker in the semi.

Cilic was in fantastic form. Fed was bombed off of the court. Granted, it stunk watching that. But this was in no way a blown opportunity for Fed. He was destroyed by a good player in incredible form.
 
guitarra

guitarra

Professional
Cilic when on song is unplayable. Now he's declined and rarely catches fire - usually for a set and then is back to his mug-self. But back then, during the last 3 rounds of USO 2014, he was literally goating. I believe he would have beaten that Djokovic, especially at the USO where Novak struggles with his form much more than at AO.
 
M

mental midget

Hall of Fame
ibbi said:
Sure, if Djokovic was playing well enough to beat Nishikori then he might have been playing well enough to beat Cilic... :rolleyes: I mean in fantasy land he might have grown wings and flown to the stars too.

Cilic was in the zone through the second half of that tournament. Aside from his nightmare matchup with Simon (that was the first time he ever beat him if I recall rightly) he just destroyed everyone else. He found some level of form there he's never really come close to anywhere else. Nothing was normal that week.
Click to expand...

agree djokovic mostly wins comfortably against him but man, cilic was just destroying everything in those matches, zone indeed.
 
T

T007

Hall of Fame
skypadq said:
I mean like okay, beating Federer was kind of a big deal, but then again, Djokovic is very bad match-up for Cilic way way worse, than Nishikori! So my question is do you believe he played good enough tennis to take out Djokovic in the final or you think, he kind of got lucky by facing Nishikori instead? To me that Cilic's single gs victory seemed too weak dunno...compared to the heroics of Juan Martin Del Potro back in 2009, when Federer fought not only for a record setting 6th consecutive US title, but also for an open era record 6th title overall! What do you think?
Click to expand...
Hypothetical Djoker can even beat Nadal in all those french open Finals
 
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