Marin Cilic Beats Kei Nishikori At Men's U.S. Open Final In Three Straight Sets

Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic won the U.S. Open on Monday, defeating Japan’s Kei Nishikori in three sets.

Marin Cilic Wins US Open

Cilic, ranked 14th before the tournament, beat No. 10 Nishikori, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to capture his first Grand Slam title. On his way to the final, Cilic defeated Tomas Berdych and Roger Federer in three straight sets. It was both Cilic and Nishikori’s first time appearing in the final of a Grand Slam, marking the first time since 1997 that both players fighting for the win were making their debuts in a major final.

“I think my team has brought something special to me,” Cilic said after the match. “Most important from all the things they brought me was joy in tennis and always having fun. I think I played the best ever in my life.”

Who Is Kristina Milkovic, Cilic’s Girlfriend?

While Cilic fought for the win against Nishikori, he was cheered on from the stands by his girlfriend Kristina Milkovic. Milkovic, whom Cilic has been dating for the last five years, was spotted watching intently as Cilic vied for the title. She reportedly studied psychology and deserves partial credit for keeping her boyfriend’s mental state during tournaments, according to the athlete.

Cilic, 25, said as recently as this year that he wasn’t in a rush to ask Milkovic to marry him. However, with his first Grand Slam win under his belt and $3 million more in his bank account, it’s been speculated that a proposal could be around the corner for the U.S. Open’s breakout star.