"It really feels like being with the real Cilic" — Fans of the US Open Champion Moved by Fan Service... A Special Encounter with 150 People [Seoul Open On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I could feel the aura of a world-class player."

Marin Cilic (38, Croatia), a former US Open men's singles champion, gifted Korean fans with special memories. Korean tennis fans also could not hide their excitement at meeting a global star.

Cilic visited the "2026 Eugene Investment & Securities Seoul Open Challenger Tennis Tournament" held on the 25th at the Tennis Stadium in Seoul Songpa-gu Olympic Park to hold a fan signing event.

Approximately 150 fans attended the fan signing event that day. Fans who arrived early to meet Cilic in person expressed their anticipation while waiting for their turn.

Cilic also responded to the fans' enthusiastic support. He greeted the fans with a bright smile and carefully handed out autographs one by one. He also showed a kind demeanor, making eye contact with the fans who came to see him.

The fans' reactions were also heated. Simply meeting a world-class tennis star up close was a special experience in itself.

Kim Tae-hyung, a tennis fan in his 30s met at the fan signing event, told StarNews in an interview, "I used to watch videos of Cilic's matches and thought he was cool. I heard the news that he would be coming to Korea, so I really wanted to see him."

Kim also revealed a special devotion to Cilic. He arrived early at the venue to receive an autograph that day and had the luck of being the first to get Cilic's signature.

He even received Cilic's autograph directly on part of his clothing. When asked about the reason, he explained, "I wanted to keep my feelings for Cilic for a longer time."

The Cilic he actually met was even more special. Kim said, "His aura was immense. I could definitely feel his presence as a player," adding, "I realized that you need that kind of presence to become a world-class player."

Another fan in his 20s also smiled and said, "I have always liked Cilic's refreshing play style," adding, "It is amazing that he is still actively playing as a professional. It was truly surprising and pleasant to see such a famous player up close."

Cilic is a star who has left a significant mark on the world tennis stage. He reached the top of the US Open men's singles in 2014, and finished as runner-up at Wimbledon in 2017 and the Australian Open in 2018. He is a top-tier player who once rose to No. 3 in the world rankings.

In particular, at the 2014 US Open, Cilic defeated "Tennis Emperor" Roger Federer (Switzerland) in the semifinals and then overcame Kei Nishikori (Japan) in the final to enjoy the joy of his first major tournament victory.

Although time has passed, he is still active on the court as a professional. He will also participate in this Seoul Open and is scheduled to showcase his skills in front of Korean tennis fans.

On-site at the Seoul Open that day, various sights and entertainment were prepared in addition to Cilic's fan signing event, drawing attention.

Visitors continued to visit the area around the Tennis Stadium in Olympic Park. Booths related to the tournament and spaces selling various food items were set up throughout the stadium. A festival atmosphere unfolded where one could enjoy not only watching tennis matches but also food and various events.

The fact that fans could directly see the players' play was also special for them. That day, men's singles qualifying matches were held before the main draw. In particular, to mark "Korean Player's Day," a large number of Korean players participated and received cheers from the fans.

The fan in his 20s who had been delighted by the meeting with Cilic earlier said, "Actually, this is my first time coming to watch a tennis tournament directly," adding, "Watching the match was truly surprising in terms of the on-site atmosphere. I definitely felt that the professional world is different. It made me want to play tennis more seriously from now on."

He continued, "It is really a good thing for famous players to visit Korea as a tennis fan. The weather is also nice, making it even more enjoyable," expressing his satisfaction.

Meanwhile, this Seoul Open will run from the qualifiers starting on the 25th until November 1. The main draw schedule begins on the 26th. Cilic, along with Korean tennis flagship Kwon Sun-woo and 17-year-old promising player Cho Min-hyuk, among others, will participate and compete for the championship.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original