Marach, Pavic Claim Doubles

22 Sunday, January 28, 2018 SPORTS Cilic to face timeless Federer in Melbourne Roger Federer will contest his 30th Grand Slam final against Marin Cilic at the Australian Open. The Swiss master, continuing his ethereal form of 2017, is yet to drop a set in Melbourne, while Cilic aims to avenge losing to Federer in last year’s Wimbledon final and add to his 2014 U.S. Open title Marach, Pavic Marin Roger Cilic CRO Federer SUI ALL-TIME HEAD-TO-HEAD claim doubles W1 8 wins ROUTE TO FINAL V. Pospisil R1 A. Bedene J. Sousa R2 J. Struff R. Harrison R3 R. Gasquet P. Carreno Busta R4 M. Fucsovics R. Nadal QF T. Berdych K. Edmund SF H. Chung 6-2, 7-6, 6-2 6-1, 5-2, retired MELBOURNE RECORD GRAND SLAM BEST MELBOURNE RECORD 2017 16 15 14 Final Australian Open 5 wins 2017 16 15 14 crown R2 R3 - R2 Q-final Roland Garros Won 2009 W SF R3 SF First appearance Final Wimbledon 8 wins Victory would take in Australian Won 2014 U.S. Open 5 wins Grand Slam tally Open final, to 20, four clear at 10th attempt 17 ATP titles 95 of Rafael Nadal Sources: ATP, Australian Open Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS Federer targets 20th Grand Slam title Melbourne oger Federer must overcome the powerful game of an in-form Marin Cilic if he is to win a 20th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open today. RFederer, 36, is through to a record seventh Australian Open final and trying to win it for the sixth time. Cilic, 29, is bidding to win his second major title and become the first Croatian to win the Australian Open. “It’s a big motivation for me to play the final and obviously to win,” said Cilic, who beat top seed Rafael Nadal in the quarter-final and Britain’s Kyle Edmund in the semi-final. “I’m feeling really good with my game, so hopefully I can have a great match and also great energy on the court.” Oliver Marach (L) and Mate Pavic pose with trophy (Pic courtesy: Xinhua) Federer is the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam final Melbourne slam title after Julian Knowle since the 39-year-old Ken Rosewall at the 1974 US Open. ustrian Oliver Marach and Croatia’s won the 2007 U.S. Open with Another victory would see him join Margaret Court, Mate Pavic captured the Australian Simon Aspelin, and Jurgen Serena Williams and Steffi Graf as the only players to OpenA men’s doubles crown with a Melzer claimed the 2010 have 20 or more major singles titles. clinical 6-4 6-4 win over Colombian duo Wimbledon and the 2011 U.S. “It would be amazing,” said the Swiss. Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah. Open championships with “It ain’t just an easy trip to the finals. There’s always Marach and Pavic claimed their first Philipp Petzschner. a lot of work that goes into it during the tournament, grand slam title as a team in their fourth Pavic made himself the focus, and also preparation beforehand.” appearance at a major, breaking the second Croatian doubles player The final will be played in the Melbourne evening Colombians at 4-4 in each set at Rod to win a major trophy after session, but conditions are still expected to be Laver Arena. Ivan Dodig, the 2015 French testing on a day when the temperature is forecast Marach became just the third Open winner with Marcelo to peak at 39C. (BBC) Austrian to win a men’s doubles grand Melo. (Reuters) Roger Federer Dimitrov battling shoulder injury London Dimitrov told a news conference play in a tournament if I’m not 100 “I played some tough matches ulgarian world number three in Sofia ahead of the Feb. 5 - 12 percent fit.” in Australia and I got tired,” the Grigor Dimitrov faces a race tournament. Dimitrov, who suffered a shock 26-year-old, who won the biggest againstB time to get fit to defend his “I didn’t feel well, I felt pain in defeat by unseeded Briton Kyle title of his career at last year’s season- title at the Sofia Open after shoulder my shoulder. Edmund in the quarter-finals of the ending ATP Finals in London, said. pain and exhaustion prevented him “I’m expecting the results in the Australian Open earlier this week, “I had only one week rest after from practising. coming days and I hope that I’ll be said that fatigue was also a factor in the end of last season... (and) ... you “I underwent a medical able to fight again but I don’t want his failure to reach the Melbourne just can’t go against your body.” examination in Monaco yesterday,” to make promises. I never want to Park semi-finals. (Reuters) Grigor Dimitrov (file pic).

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