The 35-year-old Marin Cilic conquered his 21st ATP title in Hangzhou, earning a notable milestone. The Croat lifted the ATP 250 trophy ranked 777th, becoming the lowest-ranked ATP champion since the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990! Also, the success came only four months following Marin’s second knee surgery, making it even more notable. The 24-time Major winner Novak Djokovic congratulated Cilic on his incredible result, dealing with a knee issue himself this summer. The Croat enjoyed a solid run in 2022, embracing another season in the year-end top-20. He kicked off the 2023 season in Pune and ruined his progress, experiencing a knee injury and withdrawing. Marin missed the Australian Open and underwent surgery, embracing the most challenging period of his lengthy career. The former Major champion tested his knee in July at home in Umag, losing to the young Italian Fabio Cobolli in the first round and ending the season.
Marin Cilic, Hangzhou 2024© Stream screenshot
Cilic kicked off the current season in Hong Kong, facing Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round and experiencing a massive blow. The Croat suffered a 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 loss in three hours and six minutes, squandering a 6-3, 5-2 advantage and blowing nine match points in sets two and three! Struff pulled one break back in the eighth game and denied five match points at 4-5, prolonging the battle and his chances. Marin missed three more match points at 6-5 in the decider and another in the tie break, losing it 9-7 and suffering one of the worst losses of his career. Also, the Croat left the ATP ranking list after two decades! Cilic entered the Australian Open and fell to Fabian Marozsan in the first round, followed by more losses in the Davis Cup and Buenos Aires. Marin experienced a bagel against Laslo Djere in Argentina and took another break from tennis, with his knee causing him more trouble. The former Major winner underwent another surgery in May, eager to fix the problem and compete injury-free.
Marin Cilic, Hangzhou 2024© Stream screenshot
Novak Djokovic congratulated Marin Cilic on his long-awaited ATP title.
Three months later, Cilic entered the Rafa Nadal Open in Manacor with a wild card, competing at Challengers for the first time since 2012! Former world no. 3 fell in the second round before reaching the quarter-final in Cassis, showing signs of improvement. Marin took an invitation to the ATP 250 event in Hangzhou, seeking his first ATP win since January 2023! The 25-year-old notched five, lifting the trophy and entering history books. It was Cilic’s first ATP title since St. Petersburg in 2021, celebrating it as one of the most cherished after everything he had been through. The 35-year-old lost the opening set of the event to Zachary Svajda before taking charge, beating the American and dominating Yoshihito Nishioka en route to the quarter-final. Marin had to dig deep versus Yasutaka Uchiyama, prevailing 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 after fending off a match point and remaining on the title course. Cilic notched a top-40 win over Brandon Nakashima, booking a place in the title clash against the home star Zhizhen Zhang.
Marin Cilic, Hangzhou 2024© Stream screenshot
The more experienced player delivered a 7-6, 7-6 victory in an hour and 50 minutes, becoming the ATP champion as world no. 777 and passing over 500 rivals on the ATP ranking list! Marin and Zhizhen denied all four break points, remaining neck and neck until the end. The Croat clinched three points more, using his experience in the pivotal moments and lifting the 21st ATP title. It all came to the tie breaks, where the veteran dropped one point on serve and produced three mini-breaks that carried him home. Cilic faced two break points at the start of the duel, saving them after the rival’s mistakes and serving well for the rest of the encounter. Those were the only chances for the returners, and they arranged a tie break after Zhang’s hold in game 12. Like in those games, the servers took charge in the first ten points, locking the result at 5-5.
Marin Cilic, Hangzhou 2024© Stream screenshot
The Chinese missed a forehand in the 11th point, offering the Croat a set point. Marin fired a forehand winner at 6-5, closing the opening set and gaining massive confidence. Zhizhen felt the pressure and manifested that at the beginning of the second set. He denied two break points in the first game and held, keeping his chances alive. The servers dominated the remaining games, like in the opener, introducing another tie break. Cilic landed a forehand winner and brought the following two points on serve home for a 3-0 lead. The Croat played a wayward smash in the sixth point, allowing the Chinese to pull the mini-break back and return to 3-3. The following five points saw no chances for the returners, with Marin firing an ace in the 11th point for 6-5 and a match point. He caused Zhang’s backhand mistake, moving over the top and celebrating his first ATP title in three years.