Veteran Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic defeated British qualifier Jack Pinnington Jones 6-1, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the Nexo Dallas Open on Friday evening. The 37-year-old, ranked world number 61, showcased his experience in a 74-minute match. Cilic will next face the winner of the Taylor Fritz-Sebastian Korda quarterfinal.
Marin Cilic continued his strong run at the Nexo Dallas Open 2026 by easing past Jack Pinnington Jones in the quarterfinals. The Croat, who has won his previous two matches without dropping a set against Learner Tien and Ethan Quinn, dominated from the start. He broke Pinnington Jones in the second game of the first set and maintained control throughout, winning 85% of his first-serve points and losing only 13 points on serve.
This victory marks Cilic's 68th tour-level semifinal, placing him fourth among active players behind Novak Djokovic (200), Alexander Zverev (79), and Gael Monfils (73). It also moves him ahead of Stan Wawrinka, who has 64 such appearances. Cilic, seeking a return to the top 30 rankings, expressed satisfaction in his on-court interview: “Definitely a huge accomplishment. Another great milestone. Definitely a huge sign for me and my team. We’ve been working really diligently the last several months. It pays off. You have to wait for your chances and be patient in this sport. It’s not easy sometimes. You’re playing well, maybe you’re not winning. But you just have to keep that focus. That was it. I trained well and believed that good things are gonna come.”
For Pinnington Jones, ranked world number 181, the tournament has been a notable achievement. The Brit reached the quarterfinals with an upset over fourth seed Flavio Cobolli and a three-set win against Eliot Spizzirri. Despite the loss, it represents progress in his career.
Cilic's next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the match between top seed Taylor Fritz and Sebastian Korda.
