Marin Cilic says he will need a little while to return to his previous level after his opening-round loss to Juan Monaco at Indian Wells. The U.S. Open champion hasn’t played since the beginning of the season due a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old played through the problem last season and then had to take a break.
"It's getting there," he said following the loss. "I didn't feel, you know, completely painless. Just I felt, you know, that it's a bit rusty still.
"But I went today out on court to win and I was pushing myself. Even in the last games when Juan was serving for it I was even having few chances to come back. So it wasn't like one-way story today."
Cilic said he had only been able to practice for two or three weeks before Indian Wells, though he was able to train while sidelined.
"Before I wasn't able to hit any balls," he said. "Of course you get some blisters by not playing, you know. Your body is sore, shoulder is sore, wrist, things like that. It wasn't the best, but, you know, I'm looking forward... I'm looking into this as good preparation and just opportunity to play a match and of course in doubles."
Cilic is entered in the doubles tournament with Juan Martin del Potro, and then is scheduled to play Miami. "I'm looking of course to play—you know, after four, five matches when I'm going to be playing on the court probably I'm going to feel, you know, after each match better and better," he said.
The Croatian is currently No. 10 in the ATP rankings.