Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic said he had a “big mountain to climb” to defeat seven-times champion Roger Federer, but that winning the title would mean the world to him.
“It would be a dream come true to win Wimbledon here,” said Cilic, who has previously won one grand slam, the US Open in 2014. “It would mean the absolute world to me.”
“When I won the US Open, it just opened so many possibilities in my mind for the rest of my career. To be able to do it again would mean even more.”
Cilic acknowledged he faced a formidable challenge in the final to defeat Federer.
“Over here in Wimbledon, I believe this is his home court, the place where he feels the best and knows that he can play his best game,” he said.
“It’s a big mountain to climb. Roger is playing maybe the best tennis of his career at the moment, having a great season.”
Cilic went up against the Swiss maestro in the quarter-finals last year, when he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by squandering a two-set lead and match points.
He said the experience of coming so close to beating Federer at Wimbledon would stand him in good stead in this year’s final.
“Twelve months ago I was one point away from winning a match over here against him. Definitely, I believe in my own abilities to win it.”

Pencil me in for final next year, says Querrey
Defeated Wimbledon semi-finalist Sam Querrey said his tournament run had convinced him he could beat the world’s best players, and next year he planned to go one better and make the final.
Querrey was beaten by Croatian Marin Cilic yesterday after a Wimbledon adventure that has seen him play a string of five-set matches, vanquish world number one Andy Murray and become the first American man to reach a grand slam singles semi-final since 2009.
“It’s been a fun run,” the 29-year-old who hails from California said in typically understated fashion.
“It’s given me some confidence... I feel like I’ve really had some ups over the last year, and hopefully there are more of those to come,” he added.
“I feel if I play well, my level is at a high enough point where I can beat those top guys.”
Asked how he might fare at Wimbledon next year, he said: “Pencil me in for a final, and hopefully that will happen.”
Now to see how that unfolds.
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