Marin Cilic has become the first Croatian male to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open after fending off an impressive Andy Roddick comeback in five sets.
Fourteenth seed Cilic won an epic last-eight battle 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 in a match which lasted just under four hours on Rod Laver Arena.
It was the third time in five matches that Cilic has been taken the distance at Melbourne Park this year.
Cilic's victory was finally sealed when Roddick pushed a backhand volley wide to prompt the Croatian to fall to his knees in delighted exhaustion.
"It wasn't easy. I've got experience to be here in this situation now," Cilic said.
"I just had a few extra gears in the last set. It wasn't easy.
"I was struggling on serve, he was putting pressure on me and I didn't know what to do.
"But point-by-point I worked back."
After reaching his first-ever semi-final Cilic believes he still has the energy to reach the final, despite his protracted matches so far.
"I can go one more," he said. "Why not?"
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