Cilic's absence opens up Zagreb Indoors

IvoKarlovic - Cropped

Marin Cilic's injury means the Zagreb Indoors are wide open as the locals look to continue their dominance.

Croatians have controlled the ATP 250 tournament in their nation's capital.

Of the 11 times the event has been held, eight have resulted in one of the local's lifting the trophy.

However, US Open champion Cilic is a four-time winner – but has withdrawn due to the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the year's first grand slam.

The big-serving Ivo Karlovic assumes the top seeding, but his record at the tournament is average.

The world number 27 holds a 10-9 win-loss record at the event and has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals.

Karlovic is one of six top-50 players in the draw – a solid number of players backing up after the Australian Open.

Given a bye through the first round, Karlovic could potentially meet Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the second.

Frenchman Adrian Mannarino is the second seed, while Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Gilles Muller, Andreas Seppi, Mikhail Youzhny, Viktor Troicki and Marcel Granollers make up the eight seeds.

Muller and Seppi are in the same quarter of the draw after their fine Australian Open runs.

Luxembourg's Muller upset Roberto Bautista Agut and John Isner on his way to the last 16, beaten by Novak Djokovic.

The left-hander served particularly well, and that weapon will again be a key.

Seppi stunned Roger Federer in Melbourne as he looks to bounce back after a disappointing 2014.

The Italian faces a tricky first-round clash in Croatia, taking on Dutchman Robin Haase.

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