Hello, friends. Sweet mates. Welcome to a living nightmare. A nightmare in which I, PEDESTRIAN.TV‘s Senior Style Editor, have landed the night shift on Sunday, 28th January – none other than the night of the Australian Open 2018 Men’s Singles Final.
This would all be fine and dandy if I, you know, watched sport with even a modicum of interest. A 1% level of enjoyment, if you will. But no. We’re working with -400% here, and – as you’ve all witnessed with my Australian Open fashion round-up – that disinterest comes with zero knowledge of tennis. As one of you so kindly pointed out, I had unintentionally put two mentions of the same player in the article, and called her two different names. I’m a certifiable mess.
Anyway here I am, ready to report some information on this game as best as I can. This is what you have to work with folks, so just bloody deal with it. I’ll do my best.
The final tonight was between Roger Federer, who I know purely because my friend Rachel named her cat after him, and Marin Čilić, who my mum has informed me “has a great serving arm”. FYI, I am at my parent’s place and have the resource of my tennis-obsessed mum on hand, so shout-out to Helen Mason for saving this article from becoming a pile of flaming trash.
Anyway, I saw this Čilić serving in action. It was zingy and exciting. Fuck me, he’s strong. The first set went quick-fast, with Federer taking it out 6-2. “Federer made it look easy.” My mum, everyone.
Meanwhile Melbourne is literally a fucking sauna tonight, and the Rod Laver Arena roof was closed as per a ‘heat policy’, which is apparently controversial according to Twitter – people were sounding the hell off about it.
Statement on roof closure. pic.twitter.com/BBwNx6b8Lc
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018
The Roger Federer Heat Policy 😅
— Aleksandar K (@ace_lfc) January 28, 2018
RF is known to play better in hall or closed stadium
— No 🏳️🌈 (@Xsathrie) January 28, 2018
SPICY. So this allegedly gives Federer an advantage? I couldn’t tell if this was just pearl-clutching from fans or a legit conspiracy. AND I LOVE A CONSPIRACY.
Anyway, moving along. The second set saw Federer make a few double faults. Čilić narrowly won the second set 7-6, making this all very exciting even for someone who gives zero shits.
The third set was where things got supremely interesting. Not to me, but for tennis fans. I just struggled to keep up. Basically, Federer started to lose it a little. Mum said this was “unlike him and very odd, I can’t believe it” and the Australian Open official Twitter agreed.
Federer getting uncharacteristically sloppy with 21 unforced errors – or is Marin Cilic forcing the issue?
The big Croatian up to 25 winners and looking increasingly dangerous on his forehand side…#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/vqN8ANtJO6
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018
Federer came back with a vengeance though, getting his shit together mid-way through to win 6-3 – finishing off with a killer ace, no less.
Sealed with an ace! 💨@RogerFederer goes 2️⃣ sets to 1️⃣ up.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/n4qX9qxoH8
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018
If Federer won the 4th set, he’d have won the game – but if Čilić won the 4th set, the game would go into a 5th set. DRAMA. Meanwhile, Cilic was sending racquets back to get them re-strung, then Federer was – things got seriously stressful. One of the best moments? A 200km/h (!!!!) ace serve from Čilić. Good lord, I mean I don’t care for this sport but that is some fucking power. Humans are cool.
One of the commentators mentioned how Federer gets more aggressive when he’s in the lead, which my mum made note of so I’m making note of it for you. “Especially when he’s serving”, added mum. But while Federer came out guns blazing with those killer serves and fiery zest, Čilić made a strong comeback mid-way through the set.
Cilic comes roaring back! He’s not going anywhere. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/frMhBZKyis
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018
A BIG comeback. “This is just brilliant tennis. It’s like Čilić’s really picked up the game,” mum said after one particular 18 shot rally, which judging by how many times she said “18 shots, that rally” means it was quite a lot of shots for a rally.
He ended up taking out the set 6-3, taking us into a fifth set and forcing me to stay up way past my bedtime to finish this story for you.
Hitting the 5th and final set saw Čilić and Federer absolutely fighting it out on the court. Like, these two were giving it their fucking all, guys. Which you obviously expect for the Australian Open final but I mean I was surprised they weren’t sweating blood.
However, while Čilić put up a hell of a fight, the last set (and subsequently match) went to Federer.
On the very last point, Federer hit the winning shot – and while there was some contention from Čilić which delayed Fed’s celebrating, the review showed the shot was juuuuuust in – my dad joined the conversation here to tell me to emphasise that it was “a fraction of a millimetre, I reckon”.
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆@RogerFederer, 2️⃣0️⃣x Grand Slam champion.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/l1oskAwzMU— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2018
ONYA FEDERER. His 20th grand slam title, hoo boy. Is he human? Is he a machine? We do not know.
Just FYI – this was Marin Čilić’s first Australian Open final and Federer’s widely regarded as the GOAT – so what a bloody huge night and amazing match from Čilić. Huge congrats to both these dudes – they even had me, the tennis hater, on the edge of my seat.
But also in a very real way no one ever make me do this again. Ever. Ever Ever Ever Ever.
