Marin Cilic is back on the winning way, overcoming a nasty knee injury and lifting his first ATP trophy since 2021! The 35-year-old Croat enjoyed a great week in Hangzhou, winning his 21st ATP title and writing history books.
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Ranked 777th, Cilic became the lowest-ranked player with an ATP crown since the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990. Marin kicked off the 2023 season in the top-20, and everything went wrong for him already in the opening week.
The Croat withdrew from Pune due to knee issues and embraced the most challenging period of his career. The former Major champion made a slow comeback and stayed without an ATP win until last week. The 2014 US Open winner turned the tables at the ATP 250 event in Hangzhou, fending off a match point in the quarter-final and arranging the title clash against the home star, Zhizhen Zhang.
The more experienced player prevailed 7-6, 7-6 in an hour and 50 minutes, lifting a much-needed title and making a massive jump on the ATP ranking list.
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Marin Cilic claimed an ATP title ranked 777th!
Nothing separated the two rivals after they fended off two break points each, remaining neck and neck from start to finish. Marin claimed three points more, keeping his composure in both tie breaks and securing his 13th season with an ATP title by his name.
Cilic denied two break points in the first game of the encounter, and Zhang mirrored that at the beginning of set number two. The more experienced player dropped one point behind the initial shot and delivered three mini-breaks that carried him over the top.
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The Chinese had a massive chance to move in front at the beginning of the clash, generating his only break points. He missed a forehand on the first and netted a routine backhand on the second, allowing his rival to avoid an early setback.
They served well in the remaining games, introducing a tie break. The servers were too strong in the opening ten points, remaining neck and neck.
Zhizhen sprayed a costly forehand error in the 11th point, falling behind and allowing Cilic to wrap up the set with a forehand winner at 6-5 for a massive boost.
Feeling the pressure, the home player experienced two break points in the first game of the second set. He saved them and presented another tight set, with nothing for the returners to work with in the remaining games. Marin started it with a forehand winner and claimed two points on serve for 3-0.
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Zhang pulled the mini-break back in the sixth point after a wild smash from his opponent, locking the result at 3-3. They served well in the following five points, with the Croat painting an ace at 5-5 for a match point. He drew the rival's backhand error, delivering the crucial mini-break and celebrating his first ATP title in three years.
