In an exhilarating finale at the Hangzhou Open held in east China's Zhejiang Province, Croatian tennis star Marin Cilic emerged victorious against China's Zhang Zhizhen with two consecutive tie-breaks, 7-6(5), 7-6(5).
This triumph marks Cilic's first Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour title since his win at the St. Petersburg Open in 2021. Adding to his impressive resume, this victory is the 21st Tour-level men's singles trophy of his career.
Entering the tournament as a wild card and ranked No. 777 in the world, Cilic achieved the lowest world ranking for any champion at an ATP Tour event since 1990. His remarkable performance underscores his resilience and determination to reclaim his position among tennis elites.
Expressing his gratitude post-match, Cilic said, \"Thank you to my family, my boys, my wife. Everyone who has been with me in this difficult period. Working with me day by day, pushing me, and giving me strength and spirit. I am so happy and proud to make this victory not only for me but for them too.\"
He further added, \"It has been a difficult period for me in the past few months. I lost my ranking and I didn't play too much. So a big thank you to the organizing team for giving me the opportunity [with the wild card].\"
Reference(s):
Zhang Zhizhen falls short against Marin Cilic in Hangzhou Open final
cgtn.com
