Zhizhen Zhang vs Marin Cilic – Breakdown and Prediction

September 24, 2024

Zhizhen Zhang vs Marin Cilic: ATP Hangzhou – Semifinal

Zhizhen Zhang will take on Marin Cilic in the final of the ATP Hangzhou.

Zhizhen Zhang Profile

Zhizhen Zhang is currently 43rd in the ATP rankings and his career high was No. 31 in the world. The Chinese is 27-23 for the season and 11-9 on hard surface.

Zhang is coming off a 7-6, 6-4 semifinal win over Yunchaokete Bu. Earlier in the tournament, he defeated Roberto Carballes Baena, Mattia Bellucci and Denis Yevseyev.

Zhang’s best result this season was the semifinal in Halle where he lost to Jannik Sinner.

This is his first appearance in Hangzhou.

Marin Cilic Profile

Former world No. three Marin Cilic is currently 373rd in the ATP rankings. The Croat is 8-6 for the season and 8-4 on hard surface.

Cilic is coming off a 6-4, 7-6 win over Brandon Nakashima in the semifinal. Previously in the tournament, he defeated Yasutaka Uchiyama, Yoshihito Nishioka and Zachary Svajda.

In his previous tournament in September, Cilic lost 7-6, 7-5 against Adria Soriano Barrera in the quarterfinal of the Cassis Challenger.

This is Cilic’s first final in Hangzhou after losing back-to-back semifinals in 2016 and 2017.

Head-to-Head

This will be the first match between Zhizhen Zhang and Marin Cilic.

Prediction and Conclusion

Zhizhen Zhang has a chance to win his first ever ATP title, and playing in front of the home crowd seems like the real scenario to do that. On the other side of the net will be Marin Cilic, a former world No. 3 and a Grand Slam winner. The Croat has missed significant time due to an injury, but it seems like he is getting back in full form. Beating Brandon Nakashima, who has an excellent season in the semifinals, definitely proves that. The experience is on the side of Cilic, but this is the most important match in Zhang’s career so far. The Chinese look ready for the opportunity, and we go with him to win the title today.