Marin Cilic Stuns Jack Draper: Wimbledon 2025 Second-Round Shock

Veteran Cilic Rolls Back the Years

Croatia’s Marin Cilic delivered one of the biggest shocks of Wimbledon 2025 by defeating Britain’s No.4 seed Jack Draper 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in the second round. In front of a packed and partisan Court One, the 36-year-old former finalist reminded the tennis world of his grass-court pedigree, ending Draper’s hopes of a maiden Grand Slam title on home soil.

Match Summary

• Final Score: 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 to Cilic
• Duration: Just under two hours
• Key Stats:
  • Cilic hit 53 winners and 16 aces
  • Draper managed 29 winners and no double faults
  • Cilic committed six double faults, but his aggressive play paid off.

Cilic’s victory marks his first win over a top-five player on grass and propels him into the third round at Wimbledon for the ninth time in his career. It’s a remarkable comeback for the Croatian, who had not played at the All England Club since 2021 due to two knee surgeries

How the Match Unfolded

• First Two Sets: Cilic dominated early, using his big serve and flat groundstrokes to keep Draper on the back foot. He broke Draper’s serve at crucial moments, winning five consecutive games from 4-4 in the first set to take a commanding lead.
• Third Set: Draper fought back, raising his level and breaking Cilic twice to take the set 6-1, igniting hopes of a comeback among the British fans.
• Fourth Set: The momentum swung back and forth. Draper had chances, but Cilic’s experience shone through, breaking at a critical moment and sealing the match with a powerful forehand

Post-Match Reaction

Cilic, who won the US Open in 2014 and was Wimbledon runner-up in 2017, was emotional after the win:

“In this part of my career, to come back to play at this level, in front of this crowd, against Jack, it’s just incredible,” Cilic said

For Draper, the loss continues a frustrating pattern at his home Slam. Despite breaking into the world’s top four and reaching the US Open semifinals last year, he has yet to advance past the second round at Wimbledon in four attempts.

What This Means

• For Cilic: The Croatian, now ranked 83rd, proves he remains a threat on grass. His win over Draper is his first top-five victory on the surface and a testament to his longevity and resilience.
• For Draper: The British No.1 will need to regroup after another early exit. Wimbledon remains the elusive prize for the 23-year-old, who has yet to find his best form on home turf

Stay tuned for more updates from Wimbledon 2025 as the tournament continues to deliver surprises and drama on the grass courts of London.