A milestone
Cilic joins Djokovic as active players with 600 wins
The 37-year-old has more victories than any other Croatian player
February 10, 2026
ATP Tour/Getty Images
Marin Cilic is the second active player to achieve 600 wins, joining Novak Djokovic.
By ATP staff
Marin Cilic’s 600th victory over Learner Tien on Tuesday at the Nexo Dallas Open reflects his consistency and longevity, qualities that have helped him earn a place among today’s greats. During two decades on the ATP Tour, much of which was spent competing in the ‘Big Three’ era, the Croatian has not only survived, but thrived.
Cilic, 37, is one of the fiercest competitors in the sport, armed with a fire extinguisher that puts him in equal measure. At the same time, the 21-time tour-ranked headliner balances quiet intensity with an easy smile and genuine kindness that resonates with players and fans alike.
Cilic boasts the second most wins among active players, behind Novak Djokovic (1,168 and counting). With his 600th career win, Cilic became the all-time winningest Croatian, surpassing former World No. 2 Goran Ivanisevic, who collected the 599th career win.
Another highlight of Cilic’s career came in 2014 at the US Open, where he lifted his first trophy. Cilic beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the final, days after upsetting five-time champion Roger Federer in the semi-finals. That win marked Cilic’s lone win against Federer in their 11 Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings.
“All my dreams have come true,” said Cilic as he reflected on his victory at Flushing Meadows last August. “It’s coming [to the US Open] and it always brings goosebumps and it always brings a little feeling of, ‘Can I do it again?'”
Most Tour Rank Wins (Active Players)
Cilic’s US Open victory helped him qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time that season, a feat he accomplished three years in a row from 2016-18. In 2016, Cilic won his first ATP Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati. He reached the Wimbledon final in 2017 and the Australian Open championship match in 2018, falling to Federer on both occasions.
From 2009 to 2023, Cilic spent most of the time comfortably inside the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings. Then in January 2023 at the ATP 250 in Pune, Cilic suffered a torn posterior meniscus shortly before his quarter-final match. Cilic underwent surgery for the first time in his life and played one more tournament that season. Despite his tireless efforts to rehabilitate after the surgery, Cilic was unable to return to the level he had hoped for, opting for a second surgery in May 2024.
“Me [was] reading all over the internet and researching, reading dozens and dozens, if not hundreds of researchers about knee surgery, recovery, methods, what to do, what not to do, how to train, what to train after,” recalled Cilic last April.
Four months after his second surgery, Cilic made history. Days before his 36th birthday in September 2024, Cilic won the ATP 250 in Hangzhou as World No. 777, he became the lowest-ranked champion in ATP Tour history (since 1990).
Despite his achievements on the court, Cilic is one of the most respected players on Tour. A father of two sons, Cilic has also made an impact away from the court. In 2016, he launched the Marin Cilic Foundation.
“We do everything we can to help children in need, be it through scholarships, motivational speeches or by giving them the right guidance to guide them in the right direction,” said Cilic in 2022. “I hope for a world where all children have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Despite its small size, Croatia has consistently produced world-class talent in professional tennis, including Cilic, Ivanisevic, former No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic, former No. 7 Mario Ancic, among others. Cilic’s success as the country’s winningest player speaks to his remarkable longevity.
Cilic’s long-time friend Ivan Dodig, who reached a career-high No. 2 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings in 2023, had a front-row seat to his trip.
“It’s amazing. All his work is unbelievable,” said Dodig. “I am very happy and proud of him. From the beginning, he broke the Top 100 at a young age, as a teenager, and remained one of the best players in the world, he achieved many things in his career, winning many ATP tournaments, Grand Slam tournaments.
“He has achieved everything he can do in tennis. I am happy for Marin [earning] his 600th victory. I hope others come. I am sure he has the courage and motivation to play for many more years.”
