ATP Finals 2018: Marin Cilic seals comeback win vs John Isner

Marin Cilic brought an end to his ATP Finals losing streak as he battled back from a set down to beat John Isner 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4.

The Croat had won just one of his previous nine matches, a dead-rubber against Kei Nishikori in 2016, at The O2 but now remains in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages.

However, the task ahead of him will be formidable - he must beat an already-qualified Novak Djokovic to reach the last four. If he doesn’t, the runners-up spot in Group Guga Kuerten will go to the winner of Isner’s clash with Alexander Zverev.

There had been 13 tie breaks in the past 10 meetings between these two, and there was no reason to suspect this match would be any more than a rather barren road towards 6-6. To his credit Isner consistently applied greater pressure to the Cilic serve, earning two set points only to be out rallied by the three-time Grand Slam finalist.

It felt just then that the American took the first set tie break comfortably as he reached his ninth ace of the set.

Cilic could not complain about a lack of chances to get back into the match. First came two break points in the sixth game of the second - both saved by Isner aces - then a further three the next time the American served.

Having bailed himself out of two of them, it was that trusty serve that failed him as a double fault handed the Croat the break. The second set was soon to follow.

Having lost his serve once, Isner found grasping hold of it again to be quite the challenge. After offering up just one double fault in the first set, he delivered two in the first game of the third to immediately cede the advantage to Cilic, dropping his racket onto the court in frustration.

Luckily for the American, the double-fault plague was contagious as his opponent also began with a brace to immediately hand the brace back - and then Cilic immediately reclaimed it with a brilliant drop volley at foot height.

This time Cilic did not waste his good fortune. His hopes of a last four berth may well require a win over the world No.1, but they are at least alive.