Marin Cilic won the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open title
Marin Cilic (Croatia) became the lowest-ranked player to win a title on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) calendar.
Marin Cilic, 35, triumphed with the trophy in the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open after defeating the 6th-seeded Zhang Zhizhen (China) by 2-0 (7:6(5), 7:6(5)) in the final in 1:53 hours of play. Before the start of the tournament, the Croatian was number 777 in the world ranking, but with his success he will return to the Top 250 in the world.
It is Marin Cilic’s 21st career title and 16th in hard court tournaments. His last one was in 2021 at the indoor tournament in St. Petersburg. Over the past few seasons, the former US Open champion has had to deal with various injuries, which has also led to his serious decline in the rankings.
In the final against Zhang Zhizhen, however, Marin Cilic recalled his best days. He recorded 34 winners and showed stronger nerves than his opponent in the two tiebreaks, which he won by five points each. There was not a single break in the match, and only Zhang Zhizhen had two breakpoints to make one in the first game of the match, but missed them.
“This one feels extra special! I’m incredibly proud of this past week and the work my team and I have been putting in throughout this recovery journey. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but my team has been by my side every step of the way. I’m beyond grateful to them, my family, and everyone who has supported me throughout this process. A special shout-out to my friend and incredible doctor for his unwavering support and expert guidance. Huge thanks to the Hangzhou Open organizers for the wild card and the outstanding hospitality”, wrote Marin Cilic in social networks after winning the title.
