Marin Cilic +405 in ATP Rankings as Hangzhou comeback gathers pace
Marin Cilic is set for a significant rankings jump after reaching the last four of his comeback tournament at the Hangzhou Open.
Former US Open champion Cilic was ranked as high as world No 3 back in 2018, though knee injuries have seen the Croatian fall down the rankings in recent seasons.
Cilic played just two tournaments in 2023, and finished the season down at 676th in the ATP Rankings.
He had played just six events in 2024 heading into Hangzhou and had not played an ATP-level match since Buenos Aires back in February, falling out of the top 1000 towards the beginning of the year.
Currently ranked 777th, the 35-year-old received a wildcard into the ATP 250 event and has certainly made the most of his opportunity.
Victories over Zachary Svajda and Yoshihito Nishioka powered him into the last eight, where he saved two match points to defeat Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(5).
Uchiyama had shocked top seed Holger Rune in his previous match and went 40-15 when Cilic served to stay in the match at 5-6 in the decider.
“I think today’s match was a really great level from both of us,” said Cilic post-match.
“In the second set, he played really great, was serving great under pressure and served great until the end of the match.
“For me, it was an amazing comeback, great to win that game at 5-3 when he was serving for the match and definitely thrilled with the win.”
ATP Tour News
The Croatian’s triumph means he will return to the top 400 of the ATP Rankings when they update.
Cilic is set to jump up 405 places to world No 372 as things stand, setting a solid platform to make further inroads across the rest of the season.
However, it could get even better for the 20-time ATP titleist.
He faces fourth seed Brandon Nakashima for a place in the final, with that match taking place on Monday.
World No 39 Nakashima may go in as the favourite considering the matches behind him, though the American is looking to reach just a fourth ATP final – and his first in two years.
Should Cilic prevail he would leap back into the world’s top 300, sitting around 276th in the ATP live rankings.
A run to the title would put him back in the top 250 at around 210th in the world.
