TENNIS NEWS – DAVIS CUP FINAL BETWEEN CROATIA AND ARGENTINA TIED AT 1-1 FOLLOWING WINS BY CILIC AND DEL POTRO

Written by: Staff on 26th November 2016

TENNIS NEWS - DAVIS CUP FINAL BETWEEN CROATIA AND ARGENTINA TIED AT 1-1 FOLLOWING WINS BY CILIC AND DEL POTRO |

By Ricky Dimon

This year’s Davis Cup final between Croatia and Argentina is deadlocked 1-1, as many would have guessed, after one day of competition in Zagreb. Marin Cilic got things started for the host Croats by holding off Federico Delbonis 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2 before Juan Martin Del Potro evened the score for the visiting side with a 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5 victory Ivo Karlovic.

Croatia’s Marin Cilic returns the ball to Argentina’s Federico Delbonis during their match of the Davis Cup final between Croatia and Argentina in Zagreb, Croatia, 25 November 2016. The Davis Cup final between Croatia and Argentina will take place from 25 until 27 November 2016. EPA/ANTONIO BAT

After losing the third and fourth sets, Cilic may have been having flashbacks to this season’s quarterfinals against the United State. In that tie, the world No. 6 lost to Jack Sock from two sets up in the opening match. This time around, however, Cilic avoided a complete meltdown and righted the ship for a decisive fifth set.

“The crowd helped me to stay in there,” he explained. ”It was not easy after being two-sets-to-love up. Federico played great tennis from the middle of the third till the end of the fourth. He was not missing much. He was playing really aggressive. It wasn’t easy.“

Del Potro could have had an easier time at the office during his rubber, but he failed to capitalize on either of two set points in the second set against Karlovic. The 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist missed a set point on his own serve at 6-4 in the tiebreaker and Karlovic came up with an impressive short volley to fight off the second one at 5-6. Over the next two sets though, Del Potro–who never faced a break point in the entire contest–took control.

“I think Ivo played very good tennis in those moments and of course I was nervous after I lost the second set, but in the end I had to take the longer road to victory,” Del Potro commented. “The atmosphere was fantastic. Our fans were great but (the) Croatian fans were brilliant, too, and showed us a lot of respect. It was an exhausting match, but I think I will be okay for the rest of the weekend.”

Croatian Ivo Karlovic in action against Argentinan Juan Martin del Potro during their match of the Davis Cup final between Croatia and Argentina in Zagreb, Croatia, 25 November 2016. The Davis Cup final between Croatia and Argentina will take place from 25 until 27 November 2016. EPA/ANTONIO BAT

“I am not overly exhausted because there weren’t too many long rallies,” Karlovic added. “I don’t think I was on top of my game and with a rest day for me tomorrow, I am ready to play the decisive fifth rubber if necessary.”

A fifth rubber on Sunday would come down to Karlovic and Delbonis. The fourth rubber between Cilic and Del Potro is guaranteed to be live, as one of the two countries will hold a slim 2-1 lead following Saturday’s doubles tilt.