Cilic of Croatia, who began the tournament ranked 777th in the world, having missed much of the previous two seasons due to a knee condition that necessitated numerous operations.
The former world number three had not won an ATP Tour match in 22 months before to this week, when he was awarded a wildcard to play in Hangzhou.
He defeated home favorite Zhang Zhizhen 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) on Tuesday, just four days shy of his 36th birthday, to win the title.
Cilic, who achieved a career-high, said, “It has been a difficult period for me – I lost my ranking and I didn’t play too much.”
In May, Cilic underwent the most recent surgery on his right knee, claiming it was the “best option” to help him recover and play again.
In 2023, he participated in just two games, and this season, he has already played four times.
The comeback started in August on the Challenger Tour, which is a lower tier than the main ATP events. This past week in China, it reached a new height.
