Women’s Final 

Simona Halep vs. Carolina Wozniacki

Melbourne, Australia

2:30 AM CT, Saturday

ESPN

Simona Halep vs. Carolina Wozniacki

Both these ladies have played exceptional tennis over the past 2 weeks. Caroline, the 27 year old from Odense, Denmark, is looking for her first Slam. She’s reached the Final of the U.S, Open in 2009 and 2014 and has 27 Women’s Tennis Association titles to her credit, but the coveted major title has eluded her. Serena has been a tough out for all the women. Caroline owns a 4-2 advantage over Simona, the 26 year old from Constanta, Romania, but they are 2-2 on hard courts. Simona has 16 WTA titles on her resume and was a finalist at the French Open in 2014 and 2017. “Simo’s” grit, effort and momentum gained from her classic 3 set semifinal victory over Angelique Kerber, which Simo won 9-7 in the third, carries over to the final. Simo captures her first major. Caroline is not far behind in capturing a major and will give her opponent everything she wants.

Halep over Wozniacki 7-6 (7-5 tiebreaker), 4-6, 8-6

Men’s Final

Roger Federer vs. Marin Cilic

2:30 AM, Sunday

ESPN

The great Fed, a 19 time Major champion, goes for his 20th Slam and 96th overall title in his illustrious career. His career ATP titles are second all time to Jimmy Connors’ 109.

The 36 year old from Bottmingen, Switzerland has captured 5 Australian titles in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2017. He also has 1 French Open (2009), 8 Wimbledon titles *(2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017) and 5 U.S. Opens (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 , 2008( on his remarkable resume.

Cilic, the 29 year old from Croatia, has 17 career titles and one Slam, the 2014 U.S. Open in his career, which has a lot of mileage left in it. Marin has been impressive in this Australian fortnight, but this is a difficult assignment for the Croatian. I like Fed to capture his 6th Australian, and 20th Slam, though with a challenge from Cilic. Roger drinks from the same Fountain of Youth as the 40 year old Tom Brady, who will be competing for his 6th Super Bowl title next Sunday. Fed is victorious but in a very competitive match. 

Federer over Cilic, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4