A German-Croatian brainteaser

Cataclysmic match from Altmaier against Munar in Adelaide after a poor match the previous week, so a big urge to lay HIM, BUT he’s often very good in Slams AND Cilic doesn’t necessarily seem like the ideal candidate. Let’s take a closer look.

Marin Cilic comes into this match with all his experience and background at the highest level. Despite an already very rich career, the Croatian is still capable of producing very high-quality tennis when he manages to impose his game. In Hong Kong, he put in a solid performance against Mannarino, who let him play, then a more inconsistent match against Borges, who managed to find depth to neutralize Cilic and force errors. Since his return from injury, Cilic’s level is even more than before completely tied to his physical condition.

Cilic is a player who looks to quickly take control of the rally, relying on his power and his ability to hit flat. When he’s confident, he can string together winners and put his opponent under constant pressure. On the other hand, against players who can defend well and extend rallies, he can sometimes lose patience and precision.

On the other side, Daniel Altmaier comes in with a more enduring and more patient profile. The German has been very nonchalant in previous tournaments, but he does have a real ability to defend, to vary trajectories, and to stay solid in long rallies. We’re seeing his worst version at the start of this season, but in the past he has been capable of drastically raising his level at Grand Slams, and in theory he has an advantage in longer rallies against Marin.

The outcome will largely depend on the Croatian’s ability to impose his game and shorten the rallies. If Altmaier manages to turn this into a physical battle and extend the points, the match could become much more open than it seems, but that still depends on whether he actually feels like doing it. Minor detail but still, he posted a video of his training on Instagram where he seems to be putting in more intensity than during his match against Munar, which may be an encouraging sign before his R1.