Marin Cilic makes history as lowest-ranked ATP title winner ever with Hangzhou Open final victory over Zhang Zhizhen

Updated 24/09/2024 at 18:13 GMT

Marin Cilic is an ATP champion again, beating Zhang Zhizhen to win the Hangzhou Open. Having started the week ranked at No. 777 in the world, the 35-year-old has become the lowest-ranked winner in ATP history. Cilic has had two knee surgeries since the start of 2023 and was making his return to the ATP Tour in Hangzhou for the first time since February.

Cilic celebrates long-awaited title with Hangzhou Open victory over Zhizhen

Marin Cilic has become the lowest-ranked title winner in ATP history after beating Zhang Zhizhen to win the Hangzhou Open.

Cilic, who won the 2014 US Open, had slipped to No. 777 in the world after undergoing two knee surgeries since the start of 2023.

Before his run in Hangzhou, he had played just six tour-level matches in the previous 18 months.

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He almost matched that total over the last week as he dropped just two sets across five matches - three against seeded players - on his way to a first title since 2021.

In the final against Zhang, there were no breaks of serve and only four break-point chances in total as both players dominated on serve.

But Cilic got the better of the key moments in the two tie-breaks to win 7-6(5) 7-6(5).

"It's incredible. Absolutely, absolutely incredible," Cilic said after the match. "I'm so proud of this achievement for myself, for my team, for my family. Everyone that was with me these past 20 months.

"It's been a difficult time coming back from the first surgery, then the second and coming back in this way, playing great tennis.

"Obviously today I was a touch luckier than Zhang Zhizhen, but it was an incredible tournament for both of us and big congratulations for him and bad luck for today."

Asked what swung the match in his favour, Cilic added: "I don't think I did any aspect better. The first tie break was 7-5, the second tie break was also 7-5. It was so close.

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"Both of us served incredibly well today. Not too many rallies, it can happen like this. Obviously it's a fast court, fast tennis, and I was just a little bit luckier today."

The previous lowest-ranked winner on the ATP Tour was Lleyton Hewitt when he won in Adelaide as the world No. 550 in 1998.

Cilic will have little time to celebrate as he will start his Tokyo Open campaign against home favourite Kei Nishikori later this week in a rematch of the 2014 US Open final.

Like Cilic, Nishikori is at the latter end of his career and looking to get back to his best after several injury issues.

“I've played him many times on the big stage, so I'm excited to play him here,” said Nishikori.

“I feel close to and attached him, we're in the same generation, our situations are similar, maybe I'm a bit more emotional than playing other players.”

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