How many more majors could Cilic have won with a stronger mentality?

[clout]

Got this vid on my recommended on YT and man I had no idea Cilic had botched so many great chances over the years

2016 Wimbledon vs Federer: Was up 2 sets to 0, had triple BP at 3-3, and had multiple MPs in set 4. If he'd won, he would've played Berdych in the semis (very winneable match), and Murray (who he's beaten at a major before and would go onto win against in the Cincy finals one month later).

2012 US Open vs Murray: Was up a set and 5-1 (40-30) on his serve. Cilic was destroying Murray (just like in '09) and somehow he found a way to lose that set and in sets 3 and 4, Murray destroyed him. If he wins this one like he probably should have, he'd have played Berdych (again, a beatable opponent), and Djokovic (who struggled in the actual finals with those windy conditions)

2018 Wimbledon vs Pella: Was up 6-3, 6-1 after 2 sets and was up a break in set 4, then choked like crazy in the last set. He was among the top favs to win Wimbledon this year, the draw was wide open on his side, yet he ended up losing to someone who had a sub-500 record on grass. He probably loses to Djokovic in the eventual finals though

2018 US Open vs Nishikori: Wasn't included in the vid but if he had won this one he would've played a subpar Nole in the semis and an injured Del Potro in the finals. Definitely a big missed opportunity for Marin

2009 US Open vs Del Potro: He likely beats a subpar Nadal but he wouldn't have been able to pull off what Delpo did by beating Fedal b2b. Maybe this would've given him the edge over Delpo in their h2h as Delpo has owned Cilic 1v1

2018 Australian Open vs Federer: Blew Fed off the court in set 4 and had BPs early in the 5th set against an old a** Roger, and suddenly, he forgot how to play tennis the rest of the way.

2014 Wimbledon vs Djokovic: Had a 2 sets to one lead on Nole, then started hitting a bunch of errors in the last 2 sets. He likely loses to Federer in the finals though

2016 Davis Cup vs Del Potro: Delpo really is Cilic's boogy-man. Had a chance to win the DC for his nation but proceeded to blow a 2-0 sets lead. He did get his redemption the very next year by winning Croatia the '17 Davis Cup so kudos to him there.


Overall, I'd say the 2016 Wimbledon and 2018 Australian Open are definitely his biggest misses imo

 

[Cashman]

None. He was exceedingly lucky to get the one he did.

 

[Rosstour]

None. He was exceedingly lucky to get the one he did.

And if you read between the lines he was most likely doping at the time.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Got this vid on my recommended on YT and man I had no idea Cilic had botched so many great chances over the years

2016 Wimbledon vs Federer: Was up 2 sets to 0, had triple BP at 3-3, and had multiple MPs in set 4. If he'd won, he would've played Berdych in the semis (very winneable match), and Murray (who he's beaten at a major before and would go onto win against in the Cincy finals one month later).

2012 US Open vs Murray: Was up a set and 5-1 (40-30) on his serve. Murray was getting annihilated and somehow he found a way to lose that set and in sets 3 and 4, Murray destroyed him. If he wins this one like he probably should have, he'd have played Berdych (again, a beatable opponent), and Djokovic (who struggled in the actual finals with those windy conditions)

2018 Wimbledon vs Pella: Was up 6-3, 6-1 after 2 sets and was up a break in set 4, then choked like crazy in the last set. He was among the top favs to win Wimbledon this year and he ended up losing to someone who had a sub-500 record on grass. He probably loses to Djokovic in the eventual finals though

2018 US Open vs Nishikori: Wasn't included in the vid but if he had won this one he would've played a subpar Nole in the semis and an injured Del Potro in the finals. Definitely a big missed opportunity for Marin

2009 US Open vs Del Potro: He likely beats a subpar Nadal but he wouldn't have been able to pull off what Delpo did by beating Fedal b2b. Maybe this would've given him the edge over Delpo in their h2h as Delpo has owned Cilic 1v1

2018 Australian Open vs Federer: Blew Fed off the court in set 4 and had BPs early in the 5th set against an old a** Roger, and suddenly, he forgot how to play tennis the rest of the way.

2014 Wimbledon vs Djokovic: Had a 2 sets to one lead on Nole, then started hitting a bunch of errors in the last 2 sets. He likely loses to Federer in the finals though

2016 Davis Cup vs Del Potro: Delpo really is Cilic's boogy-man. Had a chance to win the DC for his nation but proceeded to blow a 2-0 sets lead. He did get his redemption the very next year by winning Croatia the '17 Davis Cup so kudos to him there.


Overall, I'd say the 2016 Wimbledon and 2018 Australian Open are definitely his biggest misses imo

I think you're right about AO 2018, but I don't think Wimbledon 2016 is a missed opportunity. He would not have beaten Murray in the final.

Murray was incredible for a lot of 2016. I know Cilic had a m1000 win against Murray later in the year, but Murray is a much better player than Cilic on grass. Cilic also struggled against a physical beast like Murray in Bo5.

 

[dropshotlikeitshot]

None. He simply isn’t a multi-slam winning talent, his record against the other six active slam winners is proof of this.