Hangzhou Open 2024: Marin Cilic Becomes Lowest Ranked Player To Win ATP Tour Title
Marin Cilic entered the tournament ranked 777th after he was given a wild card to play at the Hangzhou Open 2024. He beat home favourite Zhang Zhizhen 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) to lift the trophy just four days before his 36th birthday
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Former US Open champion Marin Cilic scripted history with his Hangzhou Open 2024 triumph, becoming the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP Tour title in the history of the sport.
Marin Cilic Scripts History At Hangzhou Open 2024
Cilic entered the tournament ranked 777th after he was given a wild card to play at the Hangzhou Open 2024. He beat home favourite Zhang Zhizhen 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) to lift the trophy just four days before his 36th birthday
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The Croatian was missing from action over the last two years due to knee injury. He has appeared only on two occasions in 2023 and featured in four matches earlier this year.
“It has been a difficult period for me – I lost my ranking and I didn’t play too much,” said Cilic, who reached a career-high of world number 3 2018.
Cilic, a former world number three, had not won on the ATP Tour for 22 months before this week but made an incredible comeback and dropped just two sets on his way to the title victory.
“Everybody at home has been with me in this difficult period, working day by day, believing and pushing me, giving me strength and spirit,” Cilic said.
“I’m happy to make this victory, not just for me, but for them. For everyone, there is a small piece of this trophy.”
The comeback began on the Challenger Tour – the tier below the main ATP events – in August before stepping up a level again over the past week in China.
Cilic hit 18 aces and won 42 of 50 first-service points (84%) against 43rd-ranked Zhang.
After winning his 21st title of his career, Cilic will rise 404 places in the rankings to 373 next week.
Also Read: Top Tennis Players To Pull Out From China Open 2024
Talking about the highlights of Cilic’s tennis career, the Croatian won the 2014 US Open and 2028 Australian Open. He reached the finals of Wimbledon in 2017 and ended as runner-up in the 2018 Australian Open.
Marin Cilic won the Davis Cup in 2018. He bagged a silver medal at 2020 Tokyo Olympics in men’s doubles.