Roger Federer wins his 20th Grand Slam title

The final match of this year's Australian Open promised to be first-class, after all, both players showed themselves in top form in the run-up. On the one hand, Roger Federer played with confidence and determination from the start of the tournament, leaving his opponents without a chance, and Marin Cilic also showed himself to be aggressive and determined throughout all his preliminary round matches. But playing against a Roger Federer was in the end a different league than against the easier opponents before, so Cilic was quickly trailing 4:0 in the first set. He also had to fight hard for the two service games he won, but lost the set clearly 6:2. Too many errors by Cilic and a strong serve and clear winners on the part of Federer sealed the result of the first set.

2nd set: Cilic catches up
Then Cilic turned it up a notch, which was understandable from Cilic's point of view, because otherwise he would soon have had no chance in the match against the Swiss. Cilic's serve became stronger and the Croatian was suddenly able to score more and more, but his skillful passing shots also helped him against Federer's constant pressure. So it was soon 5:4 Cilic: Federer in the 2nd set and for a short moment even set point for Cilic, but the Croat made stupid mistakes like missing a simple backhand. In return, Federer took his chance and leveled at 5:5. These are also the psychologically important moments when one grows and the other goes down. The changes in the second set: a much stronger service game from Cilic, skilful passing shots and yet silly mistakes again and again. The tie-break was also close, which the Croat won 7:5. Cilic won the second set, because he showed a much stronger serve and continued to play aggressively, so he had caught up with Federer. Now it could get really exciting.

3rd set: Cilic falls behind again
The match is now even and Cilic's return game is stronger. At 2:3 Cilic : Federer, the Croatian unexpectedly and surprisingly falls behind at 0:40 and Federer gets the break. These are the psychologically important moments of a match. Can Cilic come back? Federer now leads 4:2 and serves and Cilic would have to break; the match is still even with the moments for Federer. Cilic can't break and it's 5:2 for Federer. In a rush, they both take their games with zero. The score is now 6:3 for Federer, who wins the third set with a strong service game.

4th set: Cilic goes one better
Does Cilic have the mental strength to come back for the 4th set? He certainly hasn't come this far to go down without a fight in the final. He serves strongly and then loses the 1st game unhappily. Already at the beginning Cilic is broken by Federer, will Cilic fold now? Federer has a boost. Cilic is under pressure, Federer is not. Federer's face is relaxed, Cilic's is tense. Cilic is under pressure and has to make up the deficit in the fourth set in any case. And wow, at 2:3 Cilic : Federer breaks Cilic Federer to nil with strong returns and a double fault from Federer. The match is even again. The fourth set is clearly more competitive again. Cilic extends to 4:3 and Federer serves, but Federer's service game suddenly weakens. Mental collapse for Federer? Cilic deservedly takes the game with fabulous forehand winners and leads 5:3 in the set. Cilic clearly wins his service game and takes the set 6:3. Cilic has become mentally and technically very strong again and Federer is clearly weaker. It is a real tug of war between the two. If Cilic will play in the fifth set like in the second or fourth set, the match will go to him otherwise to Federer. It remains exciting!

Set 5: It's getting tight for Cilic
The 5th set starts like a thriller. Federer serves strongly at first, then Cilic counters with strong returns and gets the break opportunity twice and only with luck Federer can enforce his game. Cilic is playing very strong right now and Federer's first winner serve is missing. It's a match on a knife's edge. Cilic takes the lead on his own serve and looks dominant, but with an unnecessary double fault he falls behind completely unexpectedly and is broken. Unexpectedly, it's 2:0 for Roger Federer. Is that it for Cilic? Hardly. Cilic continues to fight, but luck is now on Federer's side and it's 3:0 for Federer. Cilic now needs his game and then the break. Cilic serves strongly and takes the game to nil, but Federer suddenly serves strongly again and it's 4:1 for Federer. Cilic has to do something now. But it gets even worse: instead of bringing his game through and breaking Federer's, he loses his own game with stupid shots into the net, now it's 5:1 and the match is certainly lost. He will not be able to make up this deficit. Now Federer will close the bag. And then it comes as it must, Federer wins his game and the set 6:1 and with it the match.

Cilic had fought superiorly in phases, but he had to chase a deficit too often, which he had caused himself with stupid mistakes, and something like that costs too much energy physically and mentally. Federer played confidently and decisively from the start, even though Federer had phases during which he managed little, especially on his first serves, and so the match went back and forth always with a small advantage for Federer, which Federer was able to use to his advantage in the end. He is deservedly the winner of the 2018 Australian Open, claiming his 20th Grand Slam title.