26 Jan 2018

Federer bidding for Cilic rematch

5:55 pm on 26 January 2018

A rematch of last year's Wimbledon decider awaits Roger Federer if he can overcome South Korean rising star Hyeon Chung in the Australian Open semi- finals.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The stage is set for Federer to renew hostilities with Marin Cilic after the big-serving Croatian powered his way past unseeded Briton Kyle Edmund 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 on Thursday night.

Cilic was unstoppable on serve as he ended Edmund's highly-impressive campaign in two hours and 18 minutes and became the first Croatian to make the Australian Open final.

His reward could be a 10th career showdown with defending champion Federer, who is aiming to win through to a record-breaking seventh Open era final at Melbourne Park.

Federer continued his dominance over the 198cm Cilic when he prevailed over the Croatian in straight sets at Wimbledon last year to clinch his 19th grand slam title.

But while Cilic has only beaten Federer once, that victory proved to be a momentous one.

The 29-year-old stunned Federer in the 2014 US Open semi-finals on the way to claiming his first - and so far only - major title with a 6-3 6-3 6-3 victory over Kei Nishikori.

Federer is yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park this year but Cilic, who is set to rise to a career-high world No.3 ranking, is confident he can match the Swiss maestro if the two square off in the final.

"Roger is always looking to play extremely aggressively," Cilic said.

"He's serving really good and taking the ball quite early.

"With my own game, if I'm serving well, playing aggressive, hitting good shots from the baseline, I think I can match him with that game.

"Obviously it's always difficult if you are running around and he is controlling the points."

While Federer will start the overwhelming favourite, Chung's triumphs over the likes of Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev on the road to the semi-finals suggest he shouldn't be underestimated.

Another upset victory would make Chung - aged 21 years and 254 days - the youngest grand slam finalist since Juan Martin del Potro won the 2009 US Open nine days shy of his 21st birthday.

The world No.58 would also be the lowest-ranked finalist at a major since No.86 Marat Safin lost to Federer at the 2004 Australian Open.

"He's played a few extremely great matches," Cilic said of Chung.

"He's hitting great from the back of the court, moving probably one of the best on the tour and sliding better on the hard courts than on clay.

"It's amazing to watch him and great to see him coming up nicely."

Cilic, for his part, feels that he is playing better than ever ahead of his third grand slam final.

"I'm feeling really, really good physically, even though I had a few matches that went more than three hours," he said.

"I'm playing much, much more aggressive. I'm feeling that I am, for most of the shots, hitting them really, really good.

"Feeling really excited about the final, too."

- AAP