Former world number 3 Marin Cilic has withdrawn from upcoming Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. Cilic, 34, had knee surgery in January and is not ready to return to action. Cilic, now ranked 21st in the world, was hoping he could return to action during the Sunshine Double.
Unfortunately for Cilic, he won’t be making his 14th Indian Wells appearance this March.
Indian Wells Update:
OUT: Cilic, Edmund, Moutet
IN: Etcheverry, Safiullin, Galan
Next: Thompson: Entry List Updates (@EntryLists) February 28, 2023
Cilic, who made his Indian Wells debut in 2008, achieved his best result in the desert in 2016, when he reached the quarterfinals before losing to David Goffin.
In Miami, Cilic will also not make his 14th appearance this year.
Miami update:
OUT: Cilic, Moutet
Y: Ivashka, Lajovic
Next: Rods — Entry List Updates (@EntryLists) February 28, 2023
Cilic hasn’t had many notable runs in Miami either, his best tournament finish coming in 2013, when he reached the quarterfinals before losing to Andy Murray.
Cilic was ‘devastated’ after missing the Australian Open
Cilic began his 2023 season in Pune, where he defeated Roberto Carballes Baena before handing Tallon Griekspoor a walkover in the round of 16. A week later, a devastated Cilic announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open.
«Not a great start to 2023 and some tough days in Melbourne. Devastated can’t play @AustralianOpen this year but health comes first. See you next year Melbourne.»Cilic announced on Twitter just days before the start of the Australian Open.
A week after pulling out of the Australian Open, Cilic took to social media to reveal knee surgery. «Challenging few weeks to start 2023. After consulting with several specialists, I made the difficult decision to have knee surgery as it seemed the best option to fix the injury in the long term.
Fortunately, the procedure went as smoothly as we hoped,» Cilic announced on Twitter on January 20. It remains to be seen if Cilic will be able to return to action at the start of the clay season.
