In a nail-biting showdown at the Hangzhou Open, Croatia's Marin Cilic edged out China's Zhang Zhizhen in two tiebreaker sets (7-6(5), 7-6(5)) to claim his first ATP Tour title since 2021. The historic victory unfolded in east China's Zhejiang Province, marking a stunning resurgence for the 35-year-old former US Open champ. 🎾
Ranked No. 777 entering the tournament – the lowest-ranked ATP champion in 33 years – Cilic credited his wild card entry as a golden opportunity: \"This win isn’t just mine—it’s for my family and team who pushed me through the toughest months,\" he said, wiping away tears. 😢💪
While Zhang’s powerful groundstrokes electrified local fans, Cilic’s veteran composure in tiebreaks sealed the deal. The triumph adds a 21st career singles trophy to the Croatian’s legacy, proving age is just a number. Meanwhile, Zhang’s run to the final signals exciting momentum for Chinese men’s tennis. 🇨🇳✨
Psst, tennis newbies: A 'wild card' is like a golden ticket for players outside top rankings. Talk about a Cinderella story! 👟💫
