Marin Cilic beats Sam Querrey to secure a place in the Wimbledon final for the first time

MARIN CILIC put purists out of their misery by beating Sam Querrey in four sets to reach his first Wimbledon final.

Querrey seemed likely to take a distinctly unthrilling, serve-dominated match into a fifth set when he broke for a 2-1 lead in the fourth set.

Reuters

Getty Images

But Cilic found another gear, breaking back for 4-4 and then taking his second match point to complete a 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-5.

Cilic said: “It’s absolutely unbelievable.

“The way this tournament has unfolded, from the first round I was playing great tennis.

“Today was a really hard-fought battle.

“Sam played really high level tennis, especially in the first set. He was serving big and hitting big from the back of the court.

“After that I felt I was a little better on the return games, making Sam play more on his serve.

“He pushed me to play big tennis towards the end of the match.”

EPA

Getty Images

After no breaks of serve in the first set, Querrey came from 4-1 down to claim the tiebreak 8-6.

Cilic had roared in frustration after missing earlier chances to break in the second set, but finally had his breakthrough in the seventh game.

Querrey saved three break points in the first game of the third but faltered in the third.

Reuters

Yet the American found a way back into the set and forced another tiebreak, only to lose it 7-3.

Querrey had fought off break back points for Cilic in the fourth game of the fourth, but could not resist again in the eighth.

The big Croat kept up his momentum and deserved to match his compatriot Goran Ivanisevic in reaching the Wimbledon final.

Getty Images