Marin Cilic has announced his withdrawal from the Mutua Madrid Open, which takes place next week, due to a knee injury.

Meanwhile, he also announced the launch of a charitable foundation in his name, set up to help orphans in his home country of Croatia.

Withdrawal leads to doubt about clay court season.

Cilic also had to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters due to his injury, and the latest withdrawal has cast doubts about whether he’ll be in action at all this clay court season.

Several people are stating that the 2014 US Open champion will also withdraw from Rome due to his injury, and there is a distinct possibility that he may not be ready for the French Open, which starts in less than a month.

Clay is not typically a strong part of the season for the Croatian, though his withdrawal in Madrid will be seen as another opportunity missed to get some wins, after what can only be described as an average start to the season.

Cilic in action at the French Open in 2015 (Getty/Dan Istitene)
Cilic in action at the French Open in 2015 (Getty/Dan Istitene)

Charitable foundation to launch in June

Cilic announced the formation of his foundation in an official interview with the ATP World Tour, where he stated that his aim was to help orphaned children to get money, so they can go to university in the future.

The Croatian announced that the charity will be launched on the 25th June, the Saturday before Wimbledon, with a Gala dinner, which will be at a cost of £5000 for a table of ten. Cilic also expressed his aims of eventually expanding the charity, to Monaco and the rest of Europe.

The world number 12 also expressed that his friends on tour- Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic and Rafael Nadal, as well as his coach, Goran Ivanisevic- would get involved in supporting the charity.

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About the author
Oliver Dickson Jefford
20. English Literature student at the University of Southampton. Aspiring sports journalist from Hertfordshire.