Zhizhen Zhang vs Marin Cilic Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Cilic aiming to make history in ATP Hangzhou final

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: 24 Sep 2024

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Andrew Hendrie 24 Sep 2024

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Zhizhen Zhang vs Marin Cilic predictions for Tuesday's ATP Hangzhou final
Cilic is competing in his 37th ATP final; Zhang is playing his first
The match is scheduled to start at 9.30pm AEST on Tuesday September 24

Expired

Marin Cilic (Photo by Getty Images)

Zhizhen Zhang vs Marin Cilic Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

Either Zhizhen Zhang wins his maiden ATP title or Marin Cilic makes tennis history when the two players clash in the Hangzhou Open final on Tuesday night.

Zhizhen Zhang vs Marin Cilic Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Head To Head
Zhizhen Zhang Form
Marin Cilic Form
Live Stream

Chinese tennis is experiencing a boom on the men's side, with Zhang joining Juncheng Shang in a final this week, while Cilic - at No. 777 - is aiming to become the lowest-ranked ATP title winner of all time.

Cilic has a 20-16 record in ATP finals
Zhang is competing in his first ATP final
Cilic has seen three sets in two of his four matches this week, with another decided in a second-set tiebreak

Head To Head

This will be the first career meeting between the pair.

Zhizhen Zhang Form

Zhang has compiled a 25-23 record on the season so far and put together the best week of his career in Hangzhou to reach his maiden ATP final.

The 27-year-old made the semi-finals on the grass of Halle and was also a quarter-finalist at the Rome Masters earlier in the year, but this has been a special week in his home country.

There were question marks surrounding Zhang's fitness after he was forced to retire at the US Open, but he's only dropped one set on his way to the final.

Zhang started slowly against Denis Yevseyev, but prevailed in straight sets in his next three victories over Mattia Bellucci, Roberto Carballes Baena and countryman Bu Yunchaokete in the semi-finals.

Marin Cilic Form

Nobody expected Cilic to make the final this week, with the Croatian still in the early stages of his comeback from yet another knee surgery.

Cilic had a 0-4 record on the ATP Tour in 2024 before arriving in Hangzhou, obviously due to his layoff from knee surgery.

However, Cilic has looked in amazing form all things considered and doesn't appear to be fatigued or feeling any sort of niggle with his knee at all.

Cilic defeated Zachary Svajda, Yoshihito Nishioka and Yasutaka Uchiyama before producing a superb performance to conquer the in-form Brandon Nakashima in straight sets in the semi-finals.

Live Stream

Watch and bet on Zhizhen Zhang vs Marin Cilic live tennis from Hangzhou.

You can watch and bet on the match live at bet365 > Tennis > ATP Hangzhou with the action available to stream on desktop and mobile.

Geo-restrictions apply, you'll need a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to gain access. 18+ terms and conditions apply.

Verdict

Zhizhen Zhang v Marin Cilic

Promises to be another cracking final to kick off the Asian swing.

As the slight underdog, I'm liking Cilic's chances. He hasn't showed any signs of rust and his performance to beat Nakashima - who had only lost vs top 10 players over the last couple of months - was hugely impressive.

Zhang will have the home support, but if Cilic can reproduce the sort of tennis he played in the semi-finals, the Croatian will be hard to stop.