Cilic downs Nishikori to win Basel

Marin Cilic has won a re-run of the 2014 US Open final in beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-1 7-6 (7-5) to claim the Swiss Indoors title and boost hopes of a place at next month’s year-end showpiece in London.

The Croatian fourth seed – who will also lead his nation in the Davis Cup final in Zagreb against Argentina – needed 90 minutes to impose his big game on Asia’s top player on Sunday.

Nishikori lost a 2011 final to Roger Federer in the Swiss icon’s hometown; Federer, like Rafael Nadal, sat out of this year’s event having ended his season early to recover from injury.

The trophy was the second for Cilic this season, after claiming his first Masters 1000 honour two months ago when he beat Andy Murray in Cincinnati.

Cilic established himself as a solid ninth in the race to the World Tour Finals in London, where the provisionally seventh Nadal is out of the running.

But the Croatian will have to put in a solid performance next week in Paris at the last event of the ATP regular season to ensure a year-end place.

Two positions are still up for grabs, with Czech Tomas Berdych closely chasing Cilic.

“Well done for Kei but tough luck today,” Cilic said. “It was a very close match. I played well.

“I had pressure all week fighting to qualify for London but it was a great week for me, I played some good tennis.”

Cilic swept the opening set in 25 minutes but found himself drawn into a struggle in the second which was only settled in the tiebreaker.

“Marin played great today,” said Nishikori. “I’ve been twice to the finals here and I hope I can come back and finally win it.”