Ivanisevic backs Cilic to win more Grand Slam titles in light of US Open victory

Marin Cilic's coach Goran Ivanisevic has said that the Croat's US Open victory could be the first of many Grand Slam titles after he beat Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to become Croatia's first Major champion since Ivanisevic at Wimbledon in 2001.

Ivanisevic, who began coaching Cilic last year, said that the Croat can win more Grand Slams, adding that it is unbelievable, amazing and he is so proud of him, that he was able to play the final like this.

World number 16 Cilic completed a superb run at Flushing Meadows that saw him win his last 10 sets, including straight-sets victories over sixth seed Tomas Berdych, five-time champion Roger Federer and 10th seed Nishikori, The BBC reported.

Cilic is the lowest-ranked player to win a Grand Slam since Argentina's Gaston Gaudio won the 2004 French Open as the world number 44.

Ivanisevic revealed that he had said whoever was able to overcome the nerves is going to win the tournament and that's what happened. He added that after the first couple of games there was only one player on the court and that was Cilic.

The coach said that Nishikori could not cope with Cilic in any aspect of tennis. He added that the last 10 sets were the 10 best sets of the Croat's life and after this, he doesn't need to play any more sets.

Cilic did not play at last year's US Open because he was serving a ban, reduced on appeal to four months, for taking a banned stimulant.

Ivanisevic said that this is Cilic's second chance, adding that he took it, he deserves it and now anything can happen. He said that Cilic, when he plays like this, this is real tennis.

Ivanisevic also said that it was not an easy year and it came in the perfect, perfect moment, and added that from this Cilic can only go up and up and his life is never going to be the same again.