Current Players, Former Greats Help Launch Marin Cilic Foundation

Current and former ATP World Tour players helped formally launch the Marin Cilic Foundation on Saturday in London.

World No. 11 David Goffin and fellow Croatian and occasional doubles partner Marin Draganja, along with retired greats Tim Henman, Cilic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic, Ivan Ljubicic, Thomas Johansson and Rainer Schuettler attended the gala. The evening featured a dinner and entertainment from the famous mentalist Danny Blue.

The foundation has been a top priority for the 27-year-old Cilic, who’s won 14 tour-level titles during his 12-year career.

“I was very fortunate in my own life with my own achievements and with my own success… I want to give something back and also give some opportunities for some people and some kids that don’t have as many possibilities to pursue their dreams,” he said.

Cilic, who started the foundation earlier this year, plans to use it to support projects around the world. He has a special focus on giving young people in his native Croatia improved access to education. In Croatia and elsewhere, students in high school often don’t have the ability to attend universities. “The main focus is to try to help kids as much as we can,” Cilic said.

Henman, who rose to No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings during his playing career, said he was happy to support Cilic. “I think when you can appreciate the opportunities that the game has given each and every one of us, then you realise that there’s a lot of other people that are less fortunate,” he said.

Cilic’s countryman Ljubicic, who helps coach Roger Federer now, said players from Croatia can especially empathise with those less fortunate.

“Everybody from our region, we all started with small steps. I would say in a really humble way, we started from really zero, from nothing,” he said. “You always remember those first steps and looking back, of course you want to give back something, and Marin is no different. I am really glad and happy to be invited and to support him in this important moment, and I am sure it’s the beginning of something beautiful and big.”