Cilic turns the tables on Courier in funny interview

Jim Courier was the one answering the questions for once as Marin Cilic flipped the script in his post-match interview on Tuesday night.

The Croatian advanced to the semi-finals of the Australian Open after Rafael Nadal retired from their quarter-final on Rod Laver Arena.

Nadal received treatment for a leg issue in the fourth set before he succumbed down a break in the fifth set with Cilic leading 3-6 6-3 6-7 (7-5) 6-2 2-0.

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Nadal's sudden retirement left Caroline Wozniacki and Carla Suarez Navarro scrambling to get ready for their match, which was next on Rod Laver Arena.

And as Courier revealed while interviewing Cilic, he was also caught somewhat short.

"Wayne McEwen the tournament referee normally doesn't speak to me because he gets bothered by these long interviews," Courier said.

"But because the match ended quickly he asked me to stretch this interview.

"So I'm not exactly sure where to go with it, is there anything that's on your mind that you'd like to talk about?"

Cilic responded brilliantly, taking over as interviewer.

"I can ask you a couple questions?" he said, before asking Courier about his best memories of the Australian Open as a player, as well as reminiscing about the old rebound ace courts at Melbourne Park.

The sixth seed earned laughter and applause for his ad-lib efforts.

Cilic also sympathised with his injured opponent Nadal.

"Sometimes in these occasions where a player gets hurt a bit you're not exactly sure what are his possibilities ... how is he going to come up," he said.

"I just tried to stay in my own box and continue with playing well, continue with that intensity. I kept with my own game, with the plan, obviously it paid up.

"In the end I was very unfortunate because Rafa is always fighting really hard, always giving the best on the court.

"He played a very good tournament ... obviously it's very sad for him to finish the way he did."

Cilic has made the semi-finals at Melbourne Park once before, in 2010, when he was beaten in four sets by Andy Murray.

with AAP