Every week, Tennis Channel and Tennis.com will introduce a Tough Call around a thought-provoking topic, and our panel of experts will chime in both on-air and online. Be sure to join the discussion, weigh in on our polls, or comment on Facebook and Twitter using #TennisToughCall.
Here is this week's edition of Tough Call: Will someone other than Roger Federer win the 2018 Australian Open?
STEVE TIGNOR: No
I'd like to say there is still some suspense left in this year's men's draw, but it's hard to find it, or even imagine it. Hyeon Chung and Kyle Edmund are playing their first major semifinals, and we saw what happened the last time Marin Cilic played Federer in a Grand Slam final, at Wimbledon. Cilic may be desperate enough to redeem himself if they meet again that he makes this one a match, but Federer will still be the overwhelming favorite.
STEVE FLINK: No
My answer is an emphatic no! The only player left who can topple Federer is Cilic, but he would have to replicate his 2014 US Open semifinal performance against the Swiss. If Cilic reaches the final, I would give him about a 35 to 40 percent chance to beat Federer. All things being equal, though, Federer will take this title for the sixth time and secure his 20th major.
ZACH COHEN: No
Federer was picked by a majority of us to win before the tournament, and that’s not going to change with Nadal, Djokovic, Del Potro, Kyrgios and Dimitrov all watching from home. The 36-year-old also happens to look pretty darn good at the moment, as he hasn’t dropped a set in the tournament. As long as he can stay healthy, the trophy is his.
ED MCGROGAN: No
Chung and Edmund are just starting out their careers, but they might not ever have better chances to win a major than now. For all Federer has done this fortnight, he's still giving his South Korean opponent 15 years in age, and Edmund may have the biggest shots of anyone left in the draw. But experience is an asset late in Slams, and Federer has more of it than anyone. Cilic, a possible final-round opponent for Federer, knows that all too well.
ASHLEY NDEBELE: No
It was written before the tournament began and nothing is going to change that. This is one of those rare occasions where the favorite horse crosses the line first without being challenged. Federer hasn’t been tested in his last five matches and all he’s seeing now is the finish line. Without Nadal on the other side, Federer will most likely breeze past his next two matches to lift his 20th Slam.
NINA PANTIC: No
He was the favorite (for many) ahead of the fortnight's start and he's certainly the favorite now. Cilic will hopefully fare better than his Wimbledon final performance, but he’s going to be no match for an in-form Federer. It’s incredible to see Chung and Edmund making major moves, but they have never been to this stage before. The 36-year-old should sweep through his next two matches for Grand Slam No. 20.
About Tough Call:
In Tough Call, our Tennis Channel Live panelists debate the toughest questions in tennis. Is Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal the GOAT? Who would win between 2007 Serena Williams and 2017 Serena Wiliams? On court coaching: yes or no? Tennis is a competitive, one on one sport. In Tough Call our experts debate—and our viewers decide who wins.
Watch more editions of Tough Call
New Year. New Season. New App!
The new Tennis Channel App will be available in the App Store, Google Play, Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV starting January 29, 2018
