But Cilic would not be denied and he broke Nadal’s serve in the fourth game of the fourth set, racing to a 4-1 lead. They had a similar path towards this match, spending nearly an identical time on the court and ousting favorites Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov in their quarter-final encounters.
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By contrast, Cilic converted two of three break points in the opener to draw first blood.
Even if that did happen, and it’s a big “if” considering he would have to beat former US Open champion Marin Cilic then most probably 19-times grand slam great Roger Federer, his coach Fredrik Rosengren says his charge will not get cocky.
Two breaks points in the opening game of the match were the only ones Edmund would see as world No.6 Cilic cruised home in straight-sets.
“We didn’t hit too, too many balls off the back of the court”.
A first Australian Open final beckons Thursday for either Marin Cilic or Kyle Edmund, with three of the four women in action also gunning for a new Melbourne experience.
“I think in that second set, I was just a little up and down with my game”. Cilic fired 83 winners past Rafael Nadal in a truncated five-setter while Edmund drilled 46 winners past a mentally tiring Dimitrov.
It is always hard to play tennis in such circumstances, but especially so when you are up against someone with Marin Cilic’s firepower.
“Get the referee, I’m not having it”, he snapped before being flat-batted by the second match official.
“I played a good match, but I didn’t play my best”, he said. “It’s awesome to watch him, great to see him coming up nicely and the end of the year was great for him winning the ATP Next Gen Finals”, said Cilic during showering Chung with high praise.
“I actually thought the call was good and probably he was right taking the (challenge) away …”
He could get another crack at Federer on Sunday, as the defending champion and 19-time grand slam victor will be expected to beat the exciting but inexperienced Hyeon Chung of South Korea in Friday’s second semifinal.
It’ll be a third major final for Cilic, who beat Federer in the semifinals at the 2014 U.S. Open before going on to win his breakthrough Grand Slam title. I’m definitely disappointed about it, but yeah, it’s one of those things where I have to look at the whole week.
But while Murray will remain king, Edmund’s profile is certain to rise after a deeply impressive campaign capped off by victory over third seed Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals.
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However, he is unsure whether he will be fit enough to play, which would leave captain Leon Smith without his two top singles player in the absence of Andy Murray as well.
