Match report
China’s Zhang reaches first ATP Tour last, meets Cilic in Hangzhou
Sixth seed defeated Buyunchaokete in all-Chinese language semifinal
September 23, 2024
Hangzhou Open
Zhang Zhizhen in motion in Hangzhou.
By Sam Jacot
Zhang Zhizhen reached his first ATP Tour last on Monday on the Hangzhou Open, the place he defeated compatriot Buyunchaokete 7-6(3), 6-4, turning into solely the third Chinese language man in historical past to achieve a tour-level championship match.
Within the first all-Chinese language ATP Tour semifinal, the place he confronted wild card Buyunchaokete, sixth seed Zhang raised his serve stage within the essential moments. The 27-year-old saved all 4 break factors he confronted, based on Infosys ATP Stats, and fired 10 aces to document the largest win of his season after one hour and 40 minutes.
“It was an ideal match,” Zhang mentioned. “His efficiency was actually good. In straight units it was one break. It was a little bit of luck, however I am pleased with the outcome at the moment.”
Zhang joins 2023 Dallas champion Wu Yibing and this week’s Chengdu finalist Shang Juncheng because the third Chinese language ATP Tour finalist.
“We’ll maintain going. We’ll attempt to do our greatest and do our greatest. Additionally for Shang, to do his finest and we’ll see,” Zhang mentioned.
Zhang, who had misplaced his two earlier tour-level semifinals in Hamburg and Halle, has dropped only one set en path to the title match in Hangzhou. Ranked as much as No. 41 within the PIF ATP Reside Rankings, the Chinese language star will face Marin Cilic within the last.
Earlier, Cilic reached his first ATP Tour last in two years, beating American Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-6(6).
The Croatian wildcard, who arrived in Hangzhou at 777th place on the PIF ATP rankings, saved two set factors within the second-set tiebreak to change into the second-lowest-ranked finalist in ATP Tour historical past.
“I needed to be centered on each level. I needed to discover a method to discover my sport and struggle in opposition to my opponent,” Cilic mentioned after his one-hour-and-46-minute victory. “It was bodily. I used to be 4/6 down within the tie-break. I performed an ideal level [at 5/6] and got here again. Nice spirit, nice struggle and nice tennis.β
Marin BACK on the primary stage π
It’s the first ATP last since 2022 for @MarinCilic as he beats Nakashima 6-4 7-6(6)!@HangzhouOpen | #HangzhouOpen photo.twitter.com/TJ2EUI6AU0
β ATP Tour (@atptour) September 23, 2024
Cilic has gained not less than one tour-level title in 14 completely different seasons since 2008 and will probably be trying to win his first ATP Tour trophy since October 2021 (St Petersburg) when he takes on Zhang.
βItβs such an ideal pleasure to return right here. I arrived fairly early and I loved the town, the environment,β Cilic mentioned. βItβs been an unbelievable week to date.β
The 35-year-old Cilic is competing in his first ATP Tour occasion since Buenos Aires in February, after which he was sidelined for a number of months with a knee damage. The previous world No. 3 is aiming for his twenty first title and sixteenth on laborious court docket.
Nakashima was enjoying at a career-high No. 39 within the PIF ATP Rankings following his run to the fourth spherical on the US Open. The previous Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by PIF champion was trying to achieve his first tour-level last of the season.