Tien, the perfect profile?

Can the young prodigy Learner Tien get caught out by the Croatian rocket-launcher in a best-of-three indoor format?

Yes, it’s possible of course. Tien was playing at a very high level at the Australian Open, but in the tournaments before that, his level didn’t really reflect his potential. In these rather fast indoor conditions with a low bounce, we’re clearly on Cilic’s turf, and he’s been playing at a pretty high level since the start of the season. He’s a real trap for a first round here. Especially since the Croatian is tall and has a good backhand. I don’t know his stats against left-handers, but they can’t be that bad. The main point, though, is obviously Learner’s ability to use the geometry of the court to move his opponents around. For that reason, and because he’s able to neutralize powerful profiles, he’s very logically the favorite here. Even with a good Cilic, it’s Tien’s form that will largely determine the outcome of the match. And the American is playing an ATP 5000 at home and hasn’t let his new status go to his head at all. Given the odds, then, I’d be more inclined to "back" him rather than look for an over or handicap on Cilic’s side.