The 5 lowest-ranked ATP Tour finalists: Marin Cilic No 2 after Hangzhou run
Marin Cilic’s resurgence continues to gather pace in Hangzhou, with the 35-year-old back into an ATP final for the first time since 2022.
Cilic was outside the top 1,000 earlier this season and is only just inside the top 800, though the former US Open champion has thrived in Asia so far.
The Croatian is also now the second lowest-ranked ATP finalist in history; here, we take a look at the top five.
5) Lleyton Hewitt, Adelaide 1998
Hewitt was just 16 when he kickstarted his legendary career with a run to a first ATP title at the Adelaide International in 1998.
By this point, the Australian was known as a tennis prodigy, and the world No 550 received a wildcard into his home tournament, battling his way to the last four.
There, he sent out a statement of intent with a memorable victory over tennis icon Andre Agassi, beating the American in two tiebreak sets to reach the final.
Hewitt defeated future coach Jason Stoltenberg to lift the title, and would later become the world No 1 and a two-time Grand Slam singles champion.
4) Kevin Uyllett, Nottingham 1999
Zimbabwe’s Ullyett was the world No 574 when he reached his first and only ATP Tour singles final at the Nottingham Open 25 years ago.
Having qualified for the main draw, Ullyett shocked eighth seed Scott Draper in straight sets in the opening round and then beat fellow Zimbabwean qualifier Wayne Black in round two.
He ultimately did not drop a set on his way to the final, where former Grand Slam finalist Cedric Pioline beat him in straight sets.
Ullyett never cracked the top 100 of the singles rankings but won two men’s doubles and one mixed doubles Grand Slam title.
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3) Pat Cash, Seoul 1990
A former world No 4 and Wimbledon champion, Australian star Cash defied the odds to reach the Korea Open final back in 1990.
The Australian had fallen to 590th in the ATP Rankings and came through qualifying to reach the main draw.
After two three-set wins, Cash downed fifth seed Milan Srejber in straight sets to reach the semi-finals, where he knocked out eighth seed Gilad Bloom to reach the final.
It was the 10th ATP singles final of his career, though he was beaten in straight sets by Alex Antonitsch.
2) Marin Cilic, Hangzhou 2024
Outside the top 750 at the start of the week, Cilic will be back inside the top 300 no matter what happens in the Hangzhou final.
The former world No 3 dropped just one set on his way to the quarter-final, impressing the most in a straight sets win over eighth seed Yoshihito Nishioka.
Cilic then saved two match points to beat Yasutaka Uchiyama in the last eight, before a semi-final victory over fourth seed Brandon Nakashima.
He is into a 37th tour final, and will compete on Tuesday for his 21st ATP title.
1) Raemon Sluiter, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, 2009
Ranked 866th in the world at the time, Sluiter remains the lowest-ranked man to ever reach an ATP final thanks to his run in ‘s-Hertogenbosch 15 years ago.
The Dutch star reached a career-high of 46th back in 2003 but had slipped well down the rankings by 2009, and received a wildcard into his home event in the Netherlands.
Miraculously, Sluiter – now known for his coaching exploits – reached the final after winning two matches from a set down.
He beat Dudi Sela in the last eight and Ivan Navarro in the last four, before falling to qualifier Benjamin Becker in the final.
