Marin Cilic Makes History: Lowest-Ranked Player Ever Wins ATP Title!

Marin Cilic did something which you will only see in a Hollywood movie. Ranked a mind-blowing World No. 777 at the start of the tournament, Cilic made history as the lowest-ranked player ever to win an ATP Tour title. And yes, you read that right—777!

Cilic had been pretty much off the radar for the past two seasons, dealing with a knee injury that kept him sidelined. When he entered the Hangzhou Open with a wildcard, few gave him a chance. His last ATP Tour match win? Nearly two years ago! But what followed was the stuff of legends.

Showing that experience and grit go a long way, the Croatian veteran took down a string of tough opponents, including Zachary Svajda, Yoshihito Nishioka, Yasutaka Uchiyama, and fourth seed Brandon Nakashima, to punch his ticket to the final. And if anyone doubted his resilience, they were about to get a masterclass.

The Final at Hangzhou Open

Facing local favorite Zhang Zhizhen, Cilic delivered a nerve-wracking and clinical performance that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Both sets were decided in nail-biting tie-breaks, but Cilic's aggressive play and ice-cold composure saw him edge out Zhang 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5). With that, he clinched his 21st tour-level title—his first since 2021 and a triumph for the ages.

A Historic Victory for Cilic

This wasn’t just any win. Cilic’s Hangzhou Open victory wasn’t just about the low ranking; it was about sheer determination. After multiple knee surgeries and a grueling recovery period, Cilic clawed his way back to the top. This epic win skyrocketed his ranking, shooting him up to World No. 212. Talk about a comeback!

What’s Next for the Comeback Kid?

Fresh off his Hangzhou heroics, Cilic is already gearing up for the next big challenge—the ATP 500 Japan Open. And guess who he’s facing in the first round? None other than Kei Nishikori, the very player he beat in the 2014 US Open final for his first and only Grand Slam title. If that’s not a showdown worth watching, I don’t know what is!

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Credit to Charlie Fong for the Tennis Center in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Expo Center image. The image file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.