马林•西里奇

Nicknamed "Chila" by his friends...Began playing at age seven with his cousin, Tanja who lived in Germany and would come over during summer to his home city and says "I liked playing from the beginning"...Parents Zdenko (father) and Koviljka (mother) are retired...Has three brothers, two older Vinko and Goran, and one younger Mile, who is "the most inspirational person because of his good advice"...Finished as No. 2 junior in world in 2005 (behind Donald Young) and won four international junior titles, including Roland Garros (d. Van Der Duim)...Also QF at other three junior Grand Slams...In doubles, captured three junior titles in five finals...Hobbies include playing football and his favourite teams are AC Milan and Croatia (admires players Kaka and Robinho)...Admires countrymen Goran Ivanisevic and Ivan Ljubicic...Enjoys playing on all surfaces but says hard and grass are best-suited for him because of his height and style of play...Fitness trainer is Slaven Hrvoj and coached by Aussie Bob Brett...Practices at Bob Brett Academy in San Remo near French-Italian border.

Cilic DEUCE Feature (Jan. 2009)

2011 -- The top Croat captured his 6th career ATP World Tour title in St. Petersburg (d.Tipsarevic), extending his title streak to 4 years in a row...Also runner-up in 3 other events, in Marseille (l. to Soderling) in February, Umag (l. to Dolgopolov) in July and Beijing (l. to Berdych) in October, in addition to 6 QF…Compiled marks of 29-14 on hard, 13-7 on clay and 2-1 on grass...Went 1-8 vs. Top 10 opponents with lone win over No. 7 Berdych in QF of Marseille and surpassed $1 million for 3rd straight year...

2010 -- The top Croat repeated year-end best ranking of No. 14…Defended '09 titles in Chennai (d. Wawrinka) and Zagreb (d. Berrer)…Advanced to his first Grand Slam SF at Australian Open (d. Roddick, l. to Murray) and afterwards broke into Top 10 on Feb. 1…Reached a career-high No. 9 on Feb. 22 and spent 11 straight weeks in Top 10…He jumped off to an 18-2 start through first week of March but afterwards went 22-20 rest of year…Went 2-5 vs. Top 10 opponents and 30-15 on hard and 9-5 on clay…Surpassed $1 million for second straight year.

2009 -- The top Croat improved his year-end ranking for a fifth straight year, finishing in Top 20 for first time at No. 14…Won a personal-high 48 matches and captured two ATP World Tour titles — Chennai (d. Devvarman) in January and Zagreb (d. Ancic) in February, and reached two other finals — Beijing (l. to Djokovic) in October and Vienna (l. to Melzer) on Nov. 1…He also helped his native country to Davis Cup SFs (l. to Czech Republic) and advanced to his first Grand Slam QF at US Open (d. No. 2 Murray, l. to eventual champ del Potro)….Posted a personal-best 4-5 mark vs. Top 10 opponents, closing season with win over No. 8 Verdasco at Masters 1000 Paris (l. to Monfils)…Compiled marks of 35-13 on hard, 11-6 on clay and 2-2 on grass…Earned a career-high $1.2 million.

2008 -- The young Croat finished as his country's top player for first time with a year-end best No. 22 ranking...Captured his first ATP title and won a personal-high 37 matches, 23 more than previous season...Compiled a 14-15 record through mid-June before finishing 23-10 rest of season...Opened with SF in Chennai (l. to Youzhny) and advanced to Grand Slam-best 4th RD at Australian Open (d. No. 7 Gonzalez, l. to Blake)...

Did not win back-to-back matches again until May when he reached QF in Munich (l. to Mathieu)...Played well on grass with SF in Nottingham (l. to Verdasco) and followed with 4th RD at Wimbledon (l. to Clement)...In July, advanced to QF in Gstaad (l. to Andreev) and AMS Toronto (d. No. 6 Roddick, l. to Simon)...One month later, earned first ATP title in New Haven (d. Fish)...Then advanced to 3rd RD at US Open (l. to Djokovic)...

In last three weeks, went 4-3 with 3rd RD at AMS Madrid (l. to Murray) and AMS Paris (l. to Federer)...Went 2-6 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled records of 25-16 on hard, 7-3 on grass and 5-6 on clay...Ranked No. 6 in aces (558)...Earned a career-high $677,846.

2007 -- Finished in Top 100 for first time at No. 71 with a combination of success in ATP (14-13 mark) and Challenger (16-5) level play...The second-youngest player (behind Young-18) in year-end Top 100 (at 19 years, 3 months) reached second ATP SF in St. Petersburg and QF in two other tournaments...Qualified into six ATP level events during year...In April, won title at Casablanca Challenger (d. Bolelli) and one month later captured crown at Rijeka Challenger (d. Lacko)...

On grass, advanced to QF at Queen's (d. Henman, l. to eventual winner Roddick)...In last four tournaments, won at least one round, reaching QF in Beijing (d. No. 4 Davydenko, l. to Kiefer), 2nd RD in Tokyo, Moscow and SF in St. Petersburg (d. Davydenko again, l. to Verdasco)...Went 2-1 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled marks of 5-4 on hard, 4-3 on grass, 3-2 on carpet and 2-4 on clay.

2006 -- Began year as No. 1 junior in world and rose into Top 175 in ATP Rankings by end of season...As a wild card in Zagreb, posted first ATP win (d. Andreev, l. to Seppi)...Made Davis Cup debut in dead rubber against Austria (l. to Koubek) and returned for QF tie against Argentina, losing to Nalbandian in second match...

Made ATP grass court debut in 's-Hertogenbosch (l. to Robredo)...Advanced to first ATP SF in Gstaad, posting wins over Seppi, Vemic and Pavel before falling to Lopez in three sets...Made ATP doubles debut in Zagreb (w/Ljubicic)...Again teamed with Ljubicic in Davis Cup QF tie against Argentina (l. to Acasuso-Nalbandian)...Reached back-to-back Futures finals in Zagreb, claiming one title (d. Kindlmann, l. to Zverev)...

2005 -- Made ATP debut as wild card at Umag (l. to Vliegen)...Won first Futures title in Vinkovci, Croatia (d. Lacko)...Reached two Futures doubles finals, winning one title...