Cilic Rises Above the Past, Kicking Off 2026 with a Hong Kong Victory
5 January 2026
Marin Cilic makes a strong start to 2026 in Hong Kong, silencing past ghosts with a solid victory at the 250-point event.
Match Recap
The 37-year-old Croat erased memories of a 2024 first-round loss to Jan-Lennard Struff by beating Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-2.
After the match, Cilic told the ATP Tour that it's a great way to start the new season, enjoying the beautiful atmosphere in Hong Kong. "My family is here; my kids love watching and give me energy, so I looked at them and celebrated this win with them."
Looking Ahead
The 2014 US Open champion has now recorded at least one ATP Tour win in 21 consecutive seasons, a streak dating back to 2006. His victory over world No. 55 marked the first time he beat a higher-ranked opponent since ousting the fourth seed at Wimbledon last year.
Nuno Borges, the sixth seed, advanced to face Cilic in the second round after defeating Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-3.
On Day 1, Wang Yibing was the other winner, crushing Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-2, setting up a second-round meeting with third seed and 2024 champion Andrey Rublev.
Punchline 1: If confidence were a serve, Cilic just aced the whole lineup.
Punchline 2: Hong Kong just learned that starting the year with a win can be as contagious as a good backhand smile.
