BARCELONA, Spain — U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic was eliminated in the second round of the Barcelona Open on Wednesday, losing to Victor Estrella of the Dominican Republic 6-4, 6-4.
The 34-year-old Estrella broke Cilic four times on the red clay and finished off the ninth-ranked Croat by holding serve to love in the final game.
It was only Cilic's third tournament of the season after he rested to recover from a shoulder injury. As the fourth-seeded player, he had a bye in the first round.
Estrella, ranked 53rd, last year became the first Dominican to finish a season in the top 100.