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Croatia win doubles for Davis Cup final lead

  • Posted: Nov 26, 2016

Croatia gained a thrilling doubles victory over Argentina to take a 2-1 lead into the last day of the Davis Cup final in Zagreb.

Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig beat Juan Martin del Potro and Leonardo Mayer 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

In front of a boisterous crowd, Croatia got the key break to go 4-2 up in the third set and they held on for the win.

Victory for Cilic over Del Potro in Sunday’s reverse singles will seal a second world title for the Croatians.

“To finish the year in doubles like this is amazing,” said Dodig afterwards.

“This is our first time playing at home in the final and we want to give everything on the court and push it to the limits. We hope we can finish tomorrow with a victory.”

Davis Cup final latest score: Croatia 2-1 Argentina (best of five)
Friday: Marin Cilic (Cro) beat Federico Delbonis (Arg) 6-3 7-5 3-6 1-6 6-2
Juan Martin del Potro (Arg) beat Ivo Karlovic (Cro) 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 7-5
Saturday: Marin Cilic & Ivan Dodig (Cro) beat Juan Martin del Potro & Leonardo Mayer (Arg) 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3
Sunday, 13:00 GMT: Marin Cilic (Cro) v Juan Martin del Potro (Arg)
To follow: Ivo Karlovic (Cro) v Federico Delbonis (Arg)

There were no breaks of serve in the opening set but the Croatians dominated the tie-break as Mayer faltered three times under pressure while the home team held their nerve.

Mayer dropped his serve in the third game of the second set but made amends quickly to break Dodig’s as the Argentines eventually forced another tie-break, but the revival was short-lived.

The Croatians turned a 2-1 deficit into a 6-4 advantage with some good serve and volleying before world singles number six Cilic sealed the second set with an easy net point.

Cilic and Dodig again combined to break Mayer in the third set and they were able to close out the match.

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Croatia, Argentina Level In Davis Cup Final

  • Posted: Nov 25, 2016

Croatia, Argentina Level In Davis Cup Final

Nov252016

The two nations are tied at 1-1 after day one

CROATIA 1, ARGENTINA 1
Arena Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Davis Cup Final

Croatia, the 2005 champion, is level with four-time former finalist Argentina at 1-1 on Friday in the Davis Cup final at the Arena Zagreb. Argentina has previously defeated Croatia in quarter-final ties in 2002, 2006 and 2013.

Marin Cilic handed Croatia the early lead when he used his big-match experience to beat Argentina’s Federico Delbonis 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2 in three hours and 30 minutes. Cilic, who improved to a 49-23 record on the season, won 77 per cent of his first service points and struck 17 aces. World No. 41 Delbonis, who had recovered from 0-2 sets deficit against Serbia’s Viktor Troicki in last year’s quarter-finals, hit 25 winners and is now 4-3 lifetime in singles rubbers.

“The crowd helped me to stay in there, it was not easy,” said Cilic, who is now 22-9 in singles rubbers. “Federico played a great tennis from the middle of the third set to the end of the fourth. Just at the beginning of the fifth, I tried mentally to stay in there and get that break, and it was a huge difference.” Cilic completed 2016 at a career-high year-end No. 6 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro levelled the scoreline when he defeated 37-year-old Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5 over three hours and 18 minutes in the second rubber. World No. 20 Karlovic, the oldest player to feature in a singles rubber in a final tie for 96 years (43-year-old Australian Norman Brookes in 1920), won four straight points from a 4/6 deficit in the second set tie-break. He hit 35 aces, but also 12 double faults.

Del Potro, the Comeback Player of the Year in the ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon, lost just eight of his first service points (68/76) and converted three of his seven break point opportunities. The World No. 38, now 31-12 on the season, will meet Cilic in the first reverse singles rubber on Sunday.

Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Franko Skugor are scheduled to compete against Argentineans Leonardo Mayer and Guido Pella in the doubles rubber on Saturday.

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Cilic gives Croatia early lead in Davis Cup final

  • Posted: Nov 25, 2016

Marin Cilic gave Croatia an early lead in the Davis Cup final with a thrilling five-set win over Argentina’s Federico Delbonis in Zagreb.

Cilic, the highest-ranked player in the tie at sixth in the world, won 6-3 7-5 3-6 1-6 6-2 in the opening match of the best-of-five contest.

Juan Martin del Potro will try to draw Argentina level when he faces Ivo Karlovic in Friday’s second singles.

Croatia won their first and to date only Davis Cup title in 2005.

Argentina, who beat reigning champions Great Britain in the semi-finals, hope to finally win the title after losing in four previous finals.

“The crowd helped me to stay in there, it was not easy,” said Cilic, who let a two-set lead slip before prevailing in three hours and 30 minutes.

“Federico played a great tennis from the middle of the third set to the end of the fourth. Just at the beginning of the fifth, I tried mentally to stay in there and get that break, and it was a huge difference.”

Latest score: Croatia 1-0 Argentina (best of five)
Friday: Marin Cilic (Cro) beats Federico Delbonis (Arg) 6-3 7-5 3-6 1-6 6-2
To follow: Ivo Karlovic (Cro) v Juan Martin del Potro (Arg)
Saturday, 14:00 GMT: Ivan Dodig & Franko Skugor (Cro) v Leonardo Mayer & Guido Pella (Arg)
Sunday, 13:00: Marin Cilic (Cro) v Juan Martin del Potro (Arg)
To follow: Ivo Karlovic (Cro) v Federico Delbonis (Cro)

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Croatia Faces Argentina In Davis Cup Final

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2016

Croatia Faces Argentina In Davis Cup Final

Nov242016

Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro headline

CROATIA vs. ARGENTINA
Arena Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
DAVIS CUP FINAL

Croatia attempts to clinch its second Davis Cup trophy this week on home soil against Argentina, finalists on four previous occasions. Argentina has secured wins in 2002, 2006 and 2013 quarter-final ties.

Marin Cilic, who competed at last week’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and finished at a career-high year-end No. 6 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, leads the Croatian team. Ivo Karlovic, at 37 years of age, is set to become the oldest player to feature in a singles rubber in a final tie for 96 years (43-year-old Australian Norman Brookes in 1920).

Cilic takes on Argentina’s Federico Delbonis in Friday’s opening singles rubber, while Karlovic returns to the Croatian squad after a four-year absence to play Juan Martin del Potro. The draw ceremony, which was held on Thursday at the Vatroslav Lisinski concert hall, saw Croatia’s Franko Skugor and Ivan Dodig against Leonardo Mayer and Guido Pella in Saturday’s doubles rubber.

Del Potro, the Comeback Player of the Year in the ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët & Chandon, admitted on Thursday, “I think Croatia are the favourites to win the tie. They are at home and have a very strong team, but we are looking forward to a great weekend and we are also very proud to be in another final.

Del Potro, who has a 4-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head lead against Karlovic, added, “I’ll have to be focused against Karlovic because one break of serve could cost me the match. It is great to be in the final at this point of my career after so many injuries.”

Cilic and del Potro, both former US Open champions, are set to meet each other in the first reverse singles rubber on Sunday at Arena Zagreb. “Del Potro and I have known each other for a very long time. He is a great player and a very nice person. We always get along very well on the ATP World Tour and he is a very positive character for world tennis.” Del Potro leads Cilic 8-2 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.

“It will be nice to have [footballer Diego] Maradona here, but it makes no difference to us that he will be cheering on his compatriots,” added Cilic. “There is little or nothing between the two teams and hence our passionate fans can make all the difference.”

Team Nominations
Croatia: Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic, Borna Coric, Ivan Dodig; Captain: Zeljko Krajan
Argentina: Juan Martin del Potro, Federico Delbonis, Guido Pella, Leonardo Mayer; Captain: Daniel Orsanic

Davis Cup Final Schedule
Friday: Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Federico Delbonis (ARG)
Friday: Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)
Saturday: Ivan Dodig / Franko Skugor (CRO) vs. Leonardo Mayer / Guido Pella (ARG)
Sunday: Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)
Sunday: Ivo Karlovic vs. Federico Delbonis (ARG)

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Croatia favourites in Davis Cup final – Del Potro

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2016

Croatia are the favourites heading into the Davis Cup final in Zagreb, says Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.

The home side are looking to win the team title for the second time, while Argentina hope to improve on a record of four final defeats.

Marin Cilic plays Federico Delbonis in the opening singles on Friday, followed by Ivo Karlovic against Del Potro.

“We are hoping that this long quest for the cup title will come to an end,” said Del Potro.

“They are at home and have a very strong team, but we are looking forward to a great weekend and we are also very proud to be in another final.”

Davis Cup final, Zagreb (November 25-27)
Friday, 13:00 GMT: Marin Cilic (Cro) v Federico Delbonis (Arg)
To follow: Ivo Karlovic (Cro) v Juan Martin del Potro (Arg)
Saturday, 14:00: Ivan Dodig & Franko Skugor (Cro) v Leonardo Mayer & Guido Pella (Arg)
Sunday,13:00: Marin Cilic (Cro) v Juan Martin del Potro (Arg)
To follow: Ivo Karlovic (Cro) v Federico Delbonis (Cro)

Croatia, who won the Davis Cup in 2005, have a significant advantage in terms of singles rankings, with number six Cilic and number 20 Karlovic lining up on day one.

Argentina will hope Delbonis can play above his ranking of 41, while Del Potro has been playing at a higher level that his current position of 38 as he makes his way back from several years of wrist injuries.

Del Potro was the last man to beat world number one Andy Murray when he helped Argentina defeat reigning champions Great Britain in the semi-finals in September.

“I’ll have to be focused against Karlovic because one break of serve could cost me the match,” added Del Potro before the final, which takes place on an indoor hard court.

“It is great to be in the final at this point of my career after so many injuries.”

Former football World Cup winner Diego Maradona is expected at the Zagreb Arena to see whether Argentina can go one better than the finals of 1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

“It will be nice to have Maradona here but it makes no difference to us that he will be cheering on his compatriots,” said Cilic.

“There is little or nothing between the two teams and hence our passionate fans can make all the difference.”

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