MANACOR/STARNBERG, August 29, 2024

Marin Cilic made his return to competitive tennis on Wednesday at the ATP Challenger Tour hard-court event in Manacor, Spain, marking his first match in over six months. The 35-year-old Croatian, who had to undergo a knee surgery in May, defeated Spanish lucky loser Alberto Barroso Campos 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round of the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar, held at the academy of 22-time major champion Rafael Nadal.

Wild card entry Cilic struck 10 aces and won 87 per cent of his first-service points to secure victory in one hour and 29 minutes.

Back with a bang 💥@cilic_marin picks up his first win on tour since January of 2023, defeating a spirited Barroso-Campos in Mallorca 👏#ATPChallenger | @atptour | @rnadalacademy pic.twitter.com/qVTq5rN2OZ

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 28, 2024

“It was a great match for me. I started with a break and finished the first set without dropping serve. I made a couple of double faults in the second set, as the hand was a little bit rusty after the six months without competing,” Cilid said afterwards.

“I enjoyed myself on the court. The conditions are beautiful to play, great weather, great atmosphere here in Rafa’s Academy. It always gives you a bit of extra to fight and to play well.”

Cilic has played his first match on the ATP Challenger Tour since Dallas 2012. The 2014 US Open champion has captured two Challenger career titles, lifting the trophies in Casablanca, Morocco 2007 and later that year on home soil in Rijeka.

Up next for Cilic will be his compatriot and tournament’s No. 5 seed Duje Ajdukovic.