Cilic odds & betting tips – Australian Open semi-finals

SOME will put an asterisk next to Marin Cilic’s win over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

They were two games into the fifth set when the great Spaniard hobbled off centre court with a suspected hip-flexor injury.

It will go down as a walk, but anyone who watched that match will know Cilic was every chance of beating a fit and able Rafa off his own racquet.

The big Croat put all of his recent technical improvements on show and returned serve as well as he ever has in his decorated career.

Now he faces a young bolter fresh off a big upset of his own.

Kyle Edmund is not flashy or charismatic, but he is a grand slam semi-finalist after dumping out Grigor Dimitrov in four sets on Tuesday.

The young Brit hit 13 aces, 46 winners and only four double faults in a landmark performance.

Even so, he is a rank outsider among the remaining candidates for the Australian Open men’s singles title.

Edmund is paying +1200 in the outright betting at William Hill, where Cilic holds the second line at +300.

Best bets for Marin Cilic

• Over 20.5 total games won – -120.48 at Sportsbet
• Cilic win/over 39.5 total games – +160 at CrownBet

It looks like Cilic has well and truly moved on from last year’s Wimbledon meltdown.

He is serving well, his groundstrokes are rock solid and he is prowling the baseline with real intent.

There is a notable improvement in Cilic’s work at the net, which was right on the money against Rafa.

Kyle Edmund odds and specials

• +4.5 games handicap – -109.89 at Ladbrokes
• Edmund to win first set – +168 at CrownBet

Edmund’s big weapon is a thundering forehand that many pundits have dubbed the best on the ATP Tour.

He used it to great effect in the quarters as he probed and plundered Dimitrov’s weaker backhand side.

The 23-year-old was also very effective on his first serve, winning 75 per cent of points.

Who will win – Cilic or Edmund?

This is a straight shootout between two players who swing big and hit hard.

The question is which of them has the edge between the ears and around the court.

Neither of these guys are masters of finesse, but Cilic has made huge strides in that department over the last 12 months.

By contrast, Edmund’s movement and volleying are very much a work in progress.

That will be the difference as Cilic wins it in four sets, which is paying +280 at CrownBet.