Cilic advances to Ricoh Open semifinals

Top-seeded Marin Cilic advanced to the semifinals of the Ricoh Open with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Vasek Pospisil of Canada on Friday at ‘S-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

The Croatian needed just 77 minutes to dispose of Pospisil. Cilic won the final five games of the match after digging a hole in the second set.

“I feel better and better, obviously after each day I’m getting used to the grass,” Cilic said afterward. “I felt today I played a little bit better than yesterday, despite the difficult gusty conditions. I felt I served well in critical situations, and I managed to turn the break around in the second set.”

Cilic will face countryman Ivo Karlovic in the semifinals. The third-seeded Karlovic cruised to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev.

Karlovic closed it out in 58 minutes and delivered seven aces.

“It was a really good match,” Karlovic said afterward. “I was playing unbelievable, with some really good volleys. Overall I am happy with the performance.”

Second-seeded German, Alexander Zverev, and fourth-seeded Gilles Muller of Luxembourg will square off in the other semifinal.

Zverev needed just 56 minutes to complete a 6-0, 6-4 victory over France’s Julien Benneteau, while Muller posted a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over eighth-seeded Aljaz Bedene of Great Britain.

“Gilles will be another very tough match, as he likes grass a lot,” Zverev said. “But the way I’m playing, I look forward to it and hopefully I can keep playing the way I have.”

Zverev registered 13 aces in the victory over Benneteau.