"Overall I'm feeling really good," Cilic said. "Now I have two days off before the final. "I noticed in the third game of the third set, when I broke him, he just let a couple of balls go past him. "So I realised his movement was a little bit restricted, so I just tried to move the ball around and obviously that second break was extremely crucial." It was an emphatic performance by the 2014 US Open champion, who broke Edmund's serve four times and nullified the Briton's powerful forehand.Kyle Edmund's brilliant #AusOpen run ended by Marin Cilic in the semi-final https://t.co/tCVXiwGild pic.twitter.com/9G6qPnTZT2
— Sky Sports Tennis ? (@SkySportsTennis) January 25, 2018
The victory ensured that he will rise to a career-high of three when the new rankings come out on Monday. Cilic will be only the second player outside the 'Big Four' of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Federer to reach the Melbourne final since Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2008 decider. He lost to Federer in last year's Wimbledon final, but beat the 19-time Grand Slam champion in the semi-finals on the way to his US Open triumph. Cilic trails the Swiss ace 8-1, but leads Chung 3-0 in their meetings.The dream run is over for Kyle Edmund.
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) January 25, 2018
He loses in the #Ausopen semi-finals to Marin Cilic 6-2 7-6 6-2.
Reaction: https://t.co/8JnlefV1Bk #bbctennis pic.twitter.com/xPPY8dqzgB
It was a match too far for 23-year-old Edmund, who upset world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov and world No.11 Kevin Anderson on the way to his first Grand Slam semi-final but had little left in the tank. Cilic's quick returns kept him on the defensive and the Croatian broke through in the sixth game when a net cord bounced out. The Croat attacked Edmund's backhand and kept away from his forehand weapon and came up with a second break with a forehand to the corner for the opening set.Kyle Edmund's run at the 2018 #ausopen has come to an end.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 25, 2018
He lost in straight sets to Marin Cilic at the semi-final stage.
Report: https://t.co/OhEZOunFOJ #bbctennis pic.twitter.com/mttd6PssQZ
Edmund left the court for a medical timeout and fought off break point in the fourth game of the second set. At one point he become furious with umpire John Blom for awarding a point rather than replaying and ruling that it had not put the Briton off playing the shot. Games went with service but the Croatian was too strong in the tiebreaker, getting to three set points and taking a two sets to love lead with a backhand winner.BREAKING: Kyle Edmund was beaten 6-2 7-6 6-2 by Marin Cilic in their Australian Open semi-final. #SSN pic.twitter.com/yKhuqNzoKn
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 25, 2018
Cilic broke in the third game of the final set to take a firm grip as Edmund dropped his head. It got no better as Edmund hit a backhand wide on break point to drop serve again in the seventh game to leave Cilic with the task of serving out for victory. Despite losing it was a breakthrough tournament for Edmund, the only British man in this year's field after five-time finalist Andy Murray's injury withdrawal. He became only the fourth British man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals in the post-1968 Open Era.Marin Cilic is one game away from the 2018 #ausopen final.
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) January 25, 2018
He leads Kyle Edmund 6-2 7-6 5-2. He serves for the match.
Listen on @5liveSport or follow: https://t.co/8JnlefV1Bk #ausopen #bbctennis pic.twitter.com/XaR01mBTVm
Marin Cilic is in his first #AusOpen & third Grand Slam final
— The Field (@thefield_in) January 25, 2018
The 36 seed ends Kyle Edmund's dream run 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-2 in the semi-final pic.twitter.com/F39FuRwTHe