Considered a dark horse by many to win the title due to his recent form on the grass, Marin Cilic reached his fourth consecutive round of 16 with a comprehensive, straights set win over American Steve Johnson.

The #7 seed has not dropped a set in his first three matches and in his win over Johnson, served 17 aces to just one double fault.

When serving at this level, the Croat is nearly unbeatable and today was no different. Cilic continued to impress on serve winning 81 percent on first serve points and an equally astounding 69 percent on second serve points.

Johnson, the #26 seed also served well especially in the first set but eventually dropped serve down 4-5 when Cilic hit a penetrating return. The American was often successful utilizing his slice backhand to draw errors from Cilic but produced too many of his own on the forehand side.

The 2014 US Open champion was similarly explosive off both wings hitting his exquisite two-handed backhand down the line and inside out forehand for a multitude of winners. Cilic was also quite effective at the net, coming in 34 times and winning close to 60 percent of the points.

His net play, however, let him down on several occasions when serving for the second set. Johnson capitalized on these errors and finally broke the Croat’s serve down 3-5 in the second.

Johnson hit a spectacular drop shot to hold for 5-5, but Cilic would regain his focus and hold at love for 6-5. Johnson, serving down 5-6 in the second, would gift Cilic two set points off crucial errors but with amazing winners of his own, saved three set points to draw even at 6-6 and force a tie-breaker.

Johnson double-faulted in the breaker to go down 0-2 while Cilic hit his 13th ace to go up 6-3 and with an incredible lunging return, wins the second set tie-breaker 7-3.

Johnson opened the third and held at love. Although Cilic served a 133 mph second serve ace, Johnson stood his ground and passed Cilic at the net to create a break point opportunity which he converted to take a 2-0 lead in the third set.

It would appear that the momentum had swung the American’s way but Cilic continued to execute off the ground forcing multiple errors of Johnson’s racquet. Down 0-40 due in part to a double-fault, Johnson double-faulted again to give back the break.

Cilic held easily for 2-2 and would break Johnson the following game to take a 3-2 lead in the third set.  Consistently effective from the back of the court, Cilic would continue to execute his ground game and hold easily for 4-2.

The American held serve for 3-4 with a perfectly executed lob over the 6’6” Croat but Cilic would once again hold at love to lead 5-3 and just four points from clinching a spot in the round of 16.

Johnson held his nerve and serve and forced his opponent to serve for the match. A stunning forehand winner down the line gave Cilic three match points. When Johnson’s return found the net, Cilic found himself in the fourth round for the fourth consecutive year.

Next up for Cilic is the # 18 seed Roberto Batista Agut who upset the 2014 US Open finalist, Kei Nishikori, in four sets. Cilic leads their head to head 2-1 but they have yet to play on grass. This certainly will be an interesting match but given Cilic’s recent form on grass, I suspect he will once again move on to the quarters.