"I still go through periods where I train four or five days at very high intensity" - Age just a number for Marin Cilic who falls back on passionate support from his sons

Marin Cilic continues to impress on the court. A comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win over Alexander Shevchenko is the perfect way to start a 14th campaign at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

That was his 605th win on the ATP Tour, having clinched his 600th at the Dallas Open back in February. "No, it’s not easy—not just to count to 600, but to win that many matches," he stated on the Tennis Channel, in awe of the achievements he has completed in the sport.

37 years old and still going strong, the Croatian proved to be the much better player against the Kazakh qualifier. He flew out of the blocks at the speed of light, racing into a 5-0 lead before Shevchenko could catch his breath. He would slow down near the end of the set, opening the door slightly for his opponent but the gap was too large and Cilic saw it out with ease.

It looked ominous when Cilic broke once more to move 2-1 in front, however this time Shevchenko responded. He could have taken the lead himself but a wasted opportunity saw Cilic win seven points in a row to hold before breaking to love in supreme fashion. He would see it out with a whole heap of authority and command to book his spot in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters on his return to the tournament, having not set foot since 2022.

When quizzed about his performance, he was very satisfied with his showing. "I played really solid from both my service games and on return," he said. "It wasn’t easy, I have to say. You have to get your sleeves up and be ready to dig in. But I played well—very solid, the way you want it to be on clay."

2026 has proved to be quite fruitful for Cilic. A run to the third round of the Australian Open was halted by Casper Ruud in a tight match. He then backed this up by reaching the semi-final stage of the Dallas Open, losing a brace of tiebreaks to the number one seed Taylor Fritz. He came unstuck by Alexander Zverev at the Miami Open in three sets in the third round.

Following these positive signs on hardcourt, the transition to clay has seemed to be a very smooth one for an experienced tennis player. "I feel my game is quite good and very solid," he acknowledged. "Being a little bit lower-ranked, you have to face higher-ranked players early, so you have to be ready from the first rounds."

More matches are the key for the three-time Grand Slam finalist, who was enjoying the rhythm being built up on and off the courts. "With every match I play, I feel my game improving. On the practice courts, everything feels fantastic. The body is responding well, and everything is going in the right direction. I just need a few more matches under my belt, and the form will be there."

In the latter stages of a player's career, injury is always a risk and workloads are normally reduced to combat this fear. While he takes care of his body, Cilic has adopted a different approach. "Working even more—honestly," he said.

"I love it. Of course, I take more care of my body and listen to it more, but I still go through periods where I train four or five days at very high intensity, sometimes two sessions a day. That’s not so common at this stage of a career, but I like to push myself physically and get back into that 'camp mode.' Then I can ease off a bit, play some points, play some sets, and prepare for matches. I really enjoy that process."

The 2014 US Open champion enjoys his family's support when stepping onto the court. Especially from his two sons, Baldo and Vito, who he gets the most encouragement. It is this that motivates him to continue at the highest level.

"The boys bring great energy—they’re cheering me on every point, and they’re very intense about it," he said. "It gives a great balance between private life and being on tour. I really enjoy that."

While the support from his sons will be forever, his tennis career will not be. The passing of the guard has seen numerous talented tennis players rise up the ranks to take over from a prior generation, which at one point involved Cilic. The former world number three is avoiding all of this hype, choosing to focus directly and solely on his own game.

"At the end of the day, I focus on myself. There are a lot of players now aged between 24 and 29 who are in their prime and playing great tennis. For me, it’s about maintaining a high level—keeping intensity high and being ready from the first point. When I’m feeling the ball well and hitting well, I believe I can compete with the top players. It’s about sustaining that level throughout the match."

Felix Auger-Aliassime will prove to be a very tough test for Cilic. The sixth seed will look to plough on deep into the tournament, but Cilic will have other ideas as he looks to continue writing headlines on the tennis court.