Marin Čilić, the young talented Herzegovinian, in the finales of one of the greatest tennis tourneys in the world, the US Open 2014, won the Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori 3:0 in sets (6:3, 6:3, 6:3) and made it to the very top of the tennis world. He showed that with talent and hard work in spite of the fact that he comes from a region that does not have tennis tradition, nor conditions or experts, you can enter the selected circle of the best tennis players in the world. Marin Čilić was born on September 28th in the small Herzegovinian place of Medjugorje, one of the largest European Marian shrines in which, by the testimony of six children had witnessed appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace from 1981. Faith in God, love and support of his family, besides tennis, are the most important things in his life.
The first time he took a tennis racket in his hands was when he was six years old, and at ten years old he was already accomplishing his first wins, and his professional career began in 2006. Tennis is Marin's life, for his success he could also thank his trainers which have led him for years towards success, starting from his first trainer Željko Dževlan up to Goran Ivanišević who had recommended him to the Tennis Academy of Bob Brett in San Remo, and who trains him from 2013. His love towards tennis, faith in himself and his possibilities, hard work and professionals in his team is his recipe for global success. The most beautiful gift for his 26th birthday, Marin Čilić received in New York winning the US Open 2014, and the Croatian Post Mostar also congratulates him by issuing a postage stamp with his picture. (Željka Šaravanja).
