CILIC SENT CRASHING BY PELLA

MATTHEW LAMBERT

WIMBLEDON 2018 witnessed its first major shock yesterday as last year’s finalist Marin Cilic collapsed from two sets up, bundled out in the second round by world No 82 Guido Pella. The 28-year-old Argentine had never won a match at Wimbledon before this week but took out the No 3 seed in three hours and 13 minutes across two days. Pella made only 18 unforced errors compared to 63 from Cilic, striking on his fourth match point to win 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6, 7-5. ‘I was looking for this match for years, but I never expect to be here in Wimbledon against Cilic,’ said Pella, who will play 23-year-old American Mackenzie McDonald in the third round. On Wednesday night Cilic was 6-3, 6-1, 3-2 up when rain intervened. They resumed only briefly but it was enough time for Pella to break and the Croat to take a tumble. The 29-year-old said the fall did not cause any damage but it certainly coincided with a shift in momentum. ‘When we came back I was not feeling as comfortable,’ he said. ‘I was missing some easy balls. It was not just the pressure. It was me not executing on the court well.’ Pella changed his tactics on the resumption, chipping the ball in low and forcing his 6ft 5in opponent to venture out of his comfort zone and up to the net. Cilic saved two match points in the fifth set but played a wretched game as he served to stay in the Championships at 5-6, sending down a double fault and firing two routine forehands into the net.