After the pair stunned world number one Novak Djokovic and five-time champion Roger Federer to set up a surprise final, a first at a Grand Slam for both competitors, it was the 25-year-old Croat who reigned supreme on the day as he recorded a dominant 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory.

The big-hitting Croatian controlled the contest behind a ferocious forehand and an eye-popping serve to secure his first Grand Slam title in just 1 hour 54min.

The 14th seed, who missed last year's US Open due to a four-month doping ban for taking a prohibited stimulant, dropped serve just once across the three sets while hitting 17 aces and picking up 80 per cent of the points on his first serve.

He becomes just the second Croatian to win a Grand slam title after his coach Goran Ivanišević marched to Wimbledon glory in 2001.

"I think this is all [due to] hard work in the last several years and especially this year," said Čilić

"My team has brought something special to me - especially Goran.

"The most important thing he brought to me was to enjoy tennis and to always have fun.

"I enjoyed my best tennis over here and played the best I ever did in my life."

Marin Čilić was dominant on his serve throughout the final, bagging 80 per cent of the points on his first serve and recording 17 aces to become the first Croatian since 2001 to win a Grand Slam title ©Getty Images



Čilić had made his way to the final with impressive straight sets wins over Tomas Berdych and Federer, and was simply too good for 10th seed Nishikori inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

After saving break point in the opening game, the Croatian found his range with the serve and moved his focus to dismantling Nishikori.

His first breakthrough came in the sixth game where the Japanese number one sliced a forehand wide to drop serve.

After comfortably serving out the set at 6-3, Čilić was at it again in the third game of the second, pushing Nishikori to save three break points before converting a fourth, when the Japanese whistled a backhand into the net.

Despite Čilić's dominance, the New York crowd was firmly behind Nishikori with the 24-year-old responding with two break points of his own.

Nishikori's support was not about to get Čilić down, however, as he tucked away four points on the trot to hold serve and really take the wind out of the Japanese player's sail.

His dominance continued in the seventh game as he secured the double break, with Nishikori visibly flagging.

With victory becoming ever more likely, nerves appeared to get the better of Čilić in his next service game as Nishikori bit back with a break of his own.

The blip appeared only temporary though, as the Croatian added a triple break to take the second set just an hour and 10 minutes in.

His opening in the third set came in the fourth game as Nishikori floated a backhand wide to fall 3-1 behind.

The Japanese player had a chance to hit back in the seventh after conjuring up three break points, but Cilic once again held his nerve to come through and hold before wrapping up the win soon after.

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