Any thoughts on Isner/Cilic at the Australian Open?

JakeT. · Jan 21, 2011

Never played. Cilic is the small favorite. Isner impressed me with his win over Stepanek. Cilic easily beat a very in-form Giraldo. Cilic has been the slightly better hard court player over the last couple years. He might struggle with Isner's serve though.

Anyone want to weigh in?

JAKEPEAVY21 · Jan 21, 2011

Cilic for me..better all around game..both have big serves and groundstrokes

TheGuarantee · Jan 21, 2011

^Agreed. I want to like Isner, but I think Cilic is a very solid play here.

JakeT. · Jan 21, 2011

I'm leaning toward Isner because I've seen Cilic have issues with big serves in the past. I'll agree that Cilic is the more well-rounded player though. I'm just not sure he'll be able to break Isner with the way the American has been serving lately.

Brotherwo · Jan 21, 2011

I'm on Cilic here also. IMO..while Isner has played better in his last match on the return side of the court, the play hasnt been good enough to hang with Cilic who brings the experience in this spot.

Although with no previous matches recorded, sometimes it's hard to tell who youre going to get

JakeT. · Jan 22, 2011

Cilic takes it in a 5th set tiebreaker. Could have went either way. Extremely close match. 3 sets went to tiebreaker.

Do you guys think the wager on Isner was a good bet because I got +125 on a coin flip? Or is it a bad bet because I lost? Just wondering how some interpret this situation.

JAKEPEAVY21 · Jan 22, 2011

good bet because you got + money in a very close match..value was on your side and in longrun you would come out ahead

Brotherwo · Jan 22, 2011

Yeah, I agree with Peavy, +125 in a match like that is the right side.

While Isner's size brings a big serve, its just exceptionally difficult to carry that 6'6 frame through grand slam tennis. I missed the first three sets of this match but as a Cilic backer the final two were some entertaining/gut wrenching tennis to watch . A few games into the 4th it was obvious if Cilic could get to a 5th it would be Cilic's match to lose but than in the 5th Isners serve was off the charts! and held him in the match. The guy was barely moving but his serve just won service game after service game and he started to feed off it. In the end I think we got a better matchup against Nadal