Defending champ Cilic shrugs off low-key US Open return

Marin Cilic, of Croatia, serves to Guido Pella, of Argentina, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in New York. AP

NEW YORK — Marin Cilic shrugged off being shunted off to the Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday where his status as defending US Open champion was saluted by just a smattering of fans.

The Croatian stunned tennis last year when he defeated Roger Federer in the semi-finals and Kei Nishikori in the championship match to lift his first — and so far only — Grand Slam title.

But the 26-year-old was not afforded the honor of a return to showpiece Arthur Ashe Stadium where he trimphed 12 months ago.

Instead, he was second match up on Armstrong, where he saw off Argentine qualifier Guido Pella 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3).

“Louis Armstrong Court is not that small. It was a pretty nice crowd out there for a hot day today,” said ninth seed Cilic.

“It’s pretty humid. The match before went five sets. The crowd also needs some refreshments. But, you know, I’m not too bothered by the court where I’m playing.

“The courts here are all pretty big. Definitely, of course, Arthur Ashe is the place where I was playing the best, so looking forward to come back there.”

Cilic, coached by compatriot and 2001 Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic, is getting used to life in the shadows of the sport despite his major-winning status.

However, like Ivanisevic, he is a folk hero back home, with Cilic even managing to name-check his small hometown in his Monday news conference.

“I felt the most special welcome was in my hometown, Medugorje, population of 5,000 people,” said Cilic, handing the tournament media conference stenographers the added challenge of Croatian geography.

“But it was an incredible reception. Most of the people there I know from when I was a kid. It was incredible.

“More than like 30,000, 40,000 people was there. It was amazing experience. I won’t forget that for all my life, that’s for sure. And I would like to repeat that.”

The road between last year’s US Open and this year’s edition has not been smooth.

A shoulder injury forced Cilic to skip the Australian Open and his season only got underway in March.

But a quarter-final run at Wimbledon suggested that the perils are behind him, even if he has become something of a marked man since his New York heroics of last year.

“It changes, absolutely, in your mind looking at the tournament. It’s for sure a different approach,” said Cilic on his preparation both on and off the court.

“But you still have to bring that to your mind, that it’s another Grand Slam, of course. It’s going to be more important than the other ones, but you still have to simplify it.

“I am feeling that definitely it’s a pressure thing to do that, but, of course, if you approach it in the right way, as I’m trying to, it gives me more positive looks at it.”

With Nishikori defeated by France’s Benoit Paire, the champion’s path to the quarter-finals was eased, although Spanish grinder and seventh seed David Ferrer remains in his section.

“I’m more focused on myself and know that I have the abilities to win,” he said.