Cilic Stages Epic Comeback: 21 and Counting – Sets Sights on Nishikori at Japan Open
- The men's singles final of the Hangzhou Open (China/Hangzhou, hard, ATP250) took place on the 24th, with former world No.
- Cilic, 35, has had a remarkable comeback after undergoing two surgeries due to a knee injury.
- In the final against Zhang, Cilic showcased his exceptional serving skills, hitting 18 service aces and winning points on his first serve with an impressive 84% success rate.
Hangzhou Open: Marin Cilic Wins 21st Tour Title
Former World No. 3 Cilic Defeats Zhang Zhizhen in Straight Sets
The men’s singles final of the Hangzhou Open (China/Hangzhou, hard, ATP250) took place on the 24th, with former world No. 3 Marin Cilic (Croatia) emerging victorious. Cilic, who entered as a wild card, defeated No. 6 seed Zhang Zhizhen (China) in straight sets 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5), securing his 21st tour title and first in about three years.
Cilic, 35, has had a remarkable comeback after undergoing two surgeries due to a knee injury. He returned to the tour tournaments at this event ranked 777th in the world and made a strong impression by defeating Yoshihito Nishioka and Yasutaka Uchiyama to reach the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he defeated 4th seed Brandon Nakashima (USA) to advance to the final.
In the final against Zhang, Cilic showcased his exceptional serving skills, hitting 18 service aces and winning points on his first serve with an impressive 84% success rate. He also demonstrated his accuracy, hitting 34 winners throughout the match while making only 14 unforced errors. Although he allowed two breaks, he successfully broke twice himself, ultimately winning both sets in tiebreaks and claiming the championship in 1 hour and 50 minutes.
This tour victory marks Cilic’s 21st title, his first in about three years since the St. Petersburg Open (Russia/St. Petersburg, indoor hard, ATP250) in October 2021. Notably, this win at world rank 777 is the lowest world ranking since the ATP Tour was established in 1990, surpassing Lleyton Hewitt’s (Australia) record of world rank 550 in 1998.
Following this tournament, Cilic will travel to Japan to participate in the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships 2024 (Japan/Tokyo, hard, ATP500), which began on the 25th. In the first round, he will face Kei Nishikori, who is ranked 200th in the world. The two have a long history of competition, having played against each other 15 times in the past, with Nishikori winning 9 and losing 6. Their last match was in the quarterfinals of the 2018 US Open, where Nishikori emerged victorious.
Although Cilic is in good form, concerns about fatigue due to his tight schedule may impact his performance in the upcoming tournament.