In a repeat of last year’s quarter-final match, Marin Cilic quelled the Serbian challenge to breeze into the second straight final in Chennai.

By Bhagya L Ayyavoo

Effective! Word enough to describe Marin Cilic's game on Saturday. The world No.14 did just what he needed to do to win against in-form Janko Tipsarevic in the first semi-final of the Aircel Chennai Open.

There was no flashy brilliance, but second-seeded Cilic executed his game plan to perfection against the world No.38.

Cilic: No mixed doubles for me

Cilic did not have a perfect start, losing the first game on serve. Tipsarevic has been in ominous form in the last three matches, but the 2009 winner denied Tipsy the pace, and the struggling fourth-seed failed miserably, losing in a one-sided affair 6-1.

Cilic on the other hand racked up six games in-a-row to prove his dominance over his opponent.

The second set started on the wrong note for the stylist Serb, as he got broken by a rampant Cilic, who took an early 2-0 lead. But, Tipsarevic stayed in the rallies hanging on to his service games. But another break in the ninth game helped Cilic seal the second set 6-3.

The 21-year-old converted two of the six break-point opportunities in Set 2. The match lasted for an hour and 24 minutes.

With this win, Cilic maintained his clean record against the Serb. The Croat now leads the head-to-head 4-0.

Cilic and Tipsarevic met on three occasions last year, with the former winning on all three occasions in Chennai, Australian Open and Dubai.

Cilic now awaits the winner between the third-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka and fifth-ranked Dudi Sela.