Former US Open champion Marin Cilic said reaching 600 career victories on the ATP Tour is a testament to his dedication and love for tennis after overcoming a series of injury setbacks in recent seasons.
The 37-year-old Croatian achieved the milestone with a hard-fought 7-5-7-6(4) win over American Learner Tien at the Dallas Open, becoming only the second active player to reach the landmark behind Novak Djokovic.
Cilic’s latest triumph places him among an elite group of players in ATP history and sees him surpass the career total of fellow Croatian great Goran Ivanisevic, who finished with 599 tour-level wins.
Marin Cilic on getting his 600th match win:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 10, 2026
"It's just a beautiful day. It's been so difficult these last couple years. I was battling through many things… It's just a joy to get this milestone. It speaks volumes about my dedication to tennis." 🥹
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“It’s been so difficult these last couple of years, I was battling through many things,” Cilic said after the match. “Just to get to this level, playing this well against guys like Learner, who’s an incredible player and can have a fantastic career, is just a joy.
“To get this milestone speaks volumes about my dedication to tennis, living in this sport for so many years. It’s given me so much joy and I love it. It’s fun to be out here still competing and I can’t be happier.”
Cilic’s achievement is particularly significant given his recent injury struggles. He underwent two knee surgeries after tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee in 2023, followed by further complications that required another procedure in 2024.
Despite those challenges, the former world number three has shown remarkable resilience. He returned to form by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon last year and followed that with a third-round appearance at the Australian Open earlier this season.
The Croatian, who won his only Grand Slam title at the 2014 US Open, will now look to build on his momentum in Dallas, where he is set to face another American opponent in the next round, either Trevor Svajda or Ethan Quinn.
Reaching 600 victories not only highlights Cilic’s longevity at the highest level but also underlines his continued passion for the game after more than a decade among the sport’s elite.
