Thursday 11 September 2014 18:19, UK
Marin Cilic believes he can add further grand slam success following his US Open triumph against Kei Nishikori on Monday night in New York.
The big-hitting Croatian made light work of Japan's Nishikori in straight sets at Flushing Meadows to become the most unexpected male slam winner in more than a decade.
Cilic joined Juan Martin del Potro as the only man younger than the 'big four' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to win a major title.
It sort of seemed almost impossible to be part of this era and win a grand slam and just by winning it still feels almost unreal.
The 25-year-old made a leap of seven places in the latest ATP ranking to climb to No 9 in the world.
And now Cilic is aiming to add to his maiden victory after playing some of the best tennis of his career under the guidance of his coach and 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.
"It sort of seemed almost impossible to be part of this era and win a grand slam and just by winning it still feels almost unreal," said Cilic.
"With this mindset I'm going to know that with my training and the training routines that if I'm going to do well that I'm going to have great results.
"There were questions in the past whether or not I would be able to do it at a grand slam event and if I would be able to do it against the best players in the final or the semi-finals, but over here I proved that to myself and now I have to work for it and be very consistent with that.
"For sure, it's way, way closer for me (now) to win another one (major title)."
