Wimbledon final preview: Can Cilic slow the Federer train?

Roger Federer spent nearly five years trying to win his 18th Grand Slam title, scraping and clawing, falling and rising, and playing in 15 major tournaments before finally adding that elusive trophy to his record haul. Less than six months later, he's on the cusp of winning No. 19 at his very next Slam.

A title would not only extend Federer's all-time lead in total majors, but would break a deadlock with Pete Sampras for the most career Wimbledon titles (eight), in his 11th final, which is already a record for any man at any Slam. He'll go into Sunday's match having won 27 consecutive sets, with just two losses on his ledger for the year.

His opponent Sunday may not be one of his great rivals - in fact, it'll be the first time since 2009 that Federer plays someone outside the Big Four for a Slam title, ending a run of seven straight finals against one of Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or Andy Murray - but it's a player who's given him all kinds of problems in the recent past.

Know your history

As Federer was quick to point out, Marin Cilic annihilated him when the two met in the US Open semis in 2014, and in their following - and most recent - meeting, in last year's Wimbledon quarters, he nearly did so again, going up two sets and earning three match points before Federer came roaring back.

Cilic is a monster once he gets rolling, and he could give Federer's fairy tale an unhappy ending. He's got a vicious serve, excellent timing, and walloping groundstrokes, and the grass court amps up those weapons. He's a deceptively good mover, capable of finding funky angles and hitting winners off the back foot. He's also proven that he won't necessarily be fazed by whatever legend or aura or overwhelming crowd support Federer brings to bear on Centre Court.

In that US Open match, Cilic kept Federer pinned behind the baseline, choking off his lethal forecourt attack with consistent depth and weight behind his shots. Federer won less than half his net points. He never got his legs into the match, never got a toehold in Cilic's service game, and never built up any momentum.

It may seem a bit pat, but that's how Cilic can swing the upset on Sunday. He needs to play all offense, all the time; needs to be precise and varied with his service pattern; needs to go for his shots, even the low-percentage ones. He needs get on top of Federer early, and prevent him from bouncing up off the mat. Belief can be a magical elixir in this sport, so simply having done it before should help.

''He knows what it takes,'' said Cilic's coach Jonas Bjorkman, according to the Weekly Standard's Tom Perrotta. ''He knows how it feels to be out there, and he knows what it is to be under the pressure like that.''

Just a normal tennis player again

Those last two matches also require caveats. Namely, that the Federer of 2017 is not the Federer of 2014 or 2016. He's healthier, he's played a lighter schedule, and his form has been on another level.

"This year I'm just a normal tennis player again, where I can focus on tactics," Federer said, according to Perrotta. "I think that's the difference. I'm playing very well. I'm rested. I'm fresh. I'm confident, too."

This year's Federer has been timing his shots with the precision of a metronome, somehow able to square the ball up while taking it so early that his opponents barely have time to finish their swings before his next shot is whizzing past them and into the corner. Often, he plays so far inside the court that he won't even bother letting the ball hit the ground, whacking swing volleys rather than ceding court position. Cilic may find it harder to push him back than in the past.

Federer's renewed commitment to hitting over his backhand has also made him a threat to turn points around and hit winners from any position. It's opened up new possibilities for his artful construction of points. And it's made him more of a threat in the return game, meaning Cilic will have to be particularly accurate with his first serve. Even mammoth-serving Milos Raonic managed to win just 42 percent of his second-serve points against Federer in the quarterfinals.

Cilic's return game isn't his strength, so if he's facing pressure on his own serve, things will get dicey for him in a hurry.

Keep your head

Though he's handled some quality opponents in the run-up to the final, Federer will face by far his biggest challenge of the tournament in Cilic. The confident Croat won't make it easy for Federer to settle into a rhythm, and has the mix of power and consistency to keep him under pressure.

Federer hasn't faced much adversity throughout the first six rounds - cleaving through his draw without dropping a set - and it'll be interesting to see how he responds, if and when he does. Ditto for Cilic's mindset, if he should happen to find himself in a winning position. In a matchup that could become a hold-for-hold staring contest, who blinks?

Federer still gets the benefit of the doubt, but don't be shocked if Cilic topples him.

THE PICK: Federer in four sets.

HOW TO WATCH: ESPN (U.S.) or TSN (Canada), Sunday at 9:00 a.m. ET.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)