2018 Australian Open: Men’s Final Betting Tips
Roger Federer continues to defy expectations and critics as he moves one step closer to a milestone 20th Grand Slam title. Standing between him and a record seventh Australian Open title is the Croatian big-server Marin Cilic.
Melbourne Park will witness the 2018 Australian Open Men’s Final on January 28, Sunday.
Federer’s route to the final
The Swiss Maestro looked in complete control through the tournament and is a deserving finalist! He is only one step away from defending the title that he unexpectedly won last year.
He has been barely made to sweat this year, as he won all his matches in straight sets. In fact, in the semi-final, he was on the court for just an hour as his opponent Hyeon Chung retired in the second set with Federer leading 6-1, 5-2.
It wasn’t as if Federer had faced relative unknowns. The likes of Tomas Berdych and Richard Gasquet could have been trickier opponents, but Federer brushed them off easily.
Marin Cilic – run to the finals
Standing in the way for Federer is the gentle giant Cilic, who has already created history by becoming the first person from his country to reach the Australian Open final.
The 2014 US Open Champion advanced to his third Slam final by defeating the surprise semi-finalist Kyle Edmund in straight sets in the semis. His biggest win, though, came in the quarters when Rafael Nadal withdrew with Cilic leading 2-0 in the fifth set.
The sixth-seeded Cilic has spent more time on the pitch than his opponent and that could be a critical factor in this extreme heat of Melbourne.
Stats
A win will give the 36-year-old Federer his 20th Grand Slam, further underlining his credentials as the greatest of all-time.
A straight-sets win in the final would see him winning a third major Slam – and a second at the Australian Open – without dropping a set.
Should the 28-year-old Cilic win, he will become the first player outside the Big Five (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka) to win two Slams.
Federer leads the career head-to-head 8-1 while in the majors the record is 3-1. This is their first meeting at the Australian Open.
Betting Tips
Federer is the overwhelming favourite to win the title. You can back Federer to win at odds of $1.25 at William Hill and you’ll also be able to take advantage of their “Chase the Ace” promotion where you’ll get bonus bets for every ace that Federer serves. It’s a nice way to get some extra value for your bet.
If you’re looking for better odds then we suggest backing the Swiss Maestro to win the match in straight sets. Back Federer to win in straight sets at odds of $2.10 at William Hill.
* Tips are author’s opinion and provided for informational purposes only. Please gamble responsibily.
