Prop Bets: Marin Cilic VS Alexander Bublik 2025-08-24
"Alexander Bublik vs. Marin Cilic: A Tale of Two Time Travelers"
The 2025 US Open kicks off with a clash of tennis relics: Alexander Bublik (seeded 23rd, ATP No. 3 in 2014) vs. Marin Cilic (former US Open champ, now ranked 61st). Bovada and BetRivers odds suggest this is less a match and more a history lesson.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
- Bublik is the chalk at 1.45 (Bovada) / 1.5 (BetRivers), implying a 69–67% win probability.
- Cilic, the 35-year-old "vintage wine" (read: oxidized), sits at 2.8–2.6, translating to a 35.7–38.5% chance.
Why Bublik?
He’s a former US Open finalist (2014) who’s still here, still serving, and still trying to prove he’s not a ghost from the ATP’s past. His -3.5 spread (1.91–1.96 odds) suggests bookmakers expect a lopsided romp.
Why Cilic?
Because hope springs eternal. The 2014 champion will likely rely on his backhand slice to avoid the net and his pension fund to avoid panic. The Over/Under total of 39.5–41.5 games (1.83–1.92 odds) hints at a low-scoring, tactical duel—perfect for Cilic to milk the crowd for sympathy.
Prop Bets?
None listed in the data, but if you had to guess: Bet Bublik to win the first set 6-2. Cilic’s serve speed? Under 115 mph.
Verdict
Bublik’s youth (relatively) and form will prevail. Cilic’s best bet? Retiring to a life of golf and commentary. The US Open’s first round just got a free nostalgia special.
“Tennis is a game of inches… and Marin Cilic is running out of them.” — Your Humble Handicapper
Created: Aug. 22, 2025, 11:10 a.m. GMT