RICKY’S PREVIEW AND PREDICTION FOR THE 2018 AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL: FEDERER VS. CILIC

Written by: Staff on 26th January 2018

RICKY'S PREVIEW AND PREDICTION FOR THE 2018 AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL: FEDERER VS. CILIC

epa06474973 Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Hyeon Chung of South Korea during the mens semifinal on day twelve of the Australian Open tennis tournament, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, January 26, 2018. EPA-EFE/LUKAS COCH |

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Hyeon Chung of South Korea during the mens semifinal on day twelve of the Australian Open tennis tournament, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, January 26, 2018. EPA-EFE/LUKAS COCH

By Ricky Dimon

It’s deja vu all over again in the 2018 Australian Open final. No, it is not a rematch of Federer vs. Rafael Nadal at the 2017 Aussie Open. But it’s a rematch, all right. It’s Federer vs. Marin Cilic on Sunday night.

The two veterans squared off in last summer’s Wimbledon final, in which the Swiss sailed to a 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 win to complete a perfect run at the All-England Club during which he did not drop a single set. Cilic managed to take a set at the ATP Finals a few months later, but Federer still recovered for a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1 win and improved to 8-1 lifetime in the head-to-head series (5-1 on hard courts). Cilic famously earned his lone upset in this matchup with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 romp in the 2014 U.S. Open semis on the way to his first and so far only major winner’s trophy.

The similarities are striking between this Australian Open and 2017 Wimbledon, and not just because it is all coming down to Federer and Cilic. Once again, Federer has coasted into a slam final without the loss of even one set. Cilic, on the other hand, has again battled through several three-hour affairs to keep his hopes alive for a second Grand Slam triumph. Injuries plagued the All-England Club festivities, with Novak Djokovic retiring in the QFs, Andy Murray barely managing to complete his QF loss, Stan Wawrinka not playing again the rest of the season following his departure from London, and even Cilic bogged down by blisters in the final. In Melbourne, Rafael Nadal retired from his QF clash against Cilic and both semifinals were marred by physical problems.

This fortnight should end in far more entertaining fashion than Wimbledon did, as that title match between Federer and Cilic was a snooze-fest.

This time around, Cilic is showcasing something similar to the form that took the rest of the field by storm at the 2014 U.S. Open. The current world No. 6, who will climb to a career-high No. 3 on Monday, has advanced by taking out Vasek Pospisil, Joao Sousa, Ryan Harrison, Pablo Carreno Busta, Nadal (via retirement), and Kyle Edmund.

“I’m feeling really, really good physically, even though I had few matches that went more than three hours,” Cilic said. “I think I played great tournament so far with my level of tennis. I think I improved it [compared] to end of the last year. I’m playing much, much more aggressive. I’m feeling that I am, for most of the shots, hitting them really, really good. From the return, moving, forehand, backhand, serving, I think everything is in (a) good, solid spot. (I’m) feeling really excited about the final.”

Nobody has been as good as Federer this fortnight. What’s new about that?!?!? The GOAT has basically sleepwalked past Aljaz Bedene, Jan-Lennard Struff, Richard Gasquet, Marton Fucsovics, Tomas Berdych, and Hyeon Chung (via second-set retirement). Struff, Fucsovics, and Berdych pushed him to one tiebreaker apiece, with Berdych leading 5-2 in the opening set before Federer quickly restored order.

“I think I’ve done everything pretty well,” Federer commented. “I’m just pleased that actually my game has been good from the very beginning of the tournament. I mean, I’ve won all my matches without dropping a set. Clearly I was a bit lucky against Berdych in that first set, but things must be all right if I’m in this stage right now not having dropped a set and in the finals.”

But Federer is well aware that things are going well for Cilic, also.

“I definitely think him winning the U.S. Open gave [him] great belief,” the second seed said. “If the big moments come about, that [players like Cilic and Stan Wawrinka] can attain this level–not easily, but they can get there from time to time. I think he played great against Rafa. I think the belief and the way he played very positive made him win that match because he didn’t look good there for a while when he was down a set and a break and everything.

“So I like his attitude; he’s very professional. He’s always very much the same regardless of whether he wins or loses. I like that attitude. On the court, he’s a winner. You can see it on the way he behaves on the court. He’s there to win and not just to be there. Sometimes you see other players you feel like they’re happy to have made the quarters so far. I think he strives for more.”

Cilic should be able to do more in this latest title tilt than he did at Wimbledon. He is playing better than he did during his Wimbledon run and a medium-paced hard court is arguably more conducive to his game than grass, as the ball bounces higher into his strike zone and he has more time to set up his huge groundstrokes.

Federer will likely be tested for the first time this fortnight, but experience, freshness, and just about every other factor favor…you guessed it… FED.

Pick: Federer in 4