There are a lot of similarities between Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic. Both have won a grand slam title, both are the age of 28 and both regard each other as friends. Born five days apart, the two have known each other since the start of their junior career. The two share a lot of history, but neither of them are prepared to let it sidetrack them from their Davis Cup dream.
Playing for different teams in the upcoming final, Del Potro’s Argentina will be hoping to win their maiden Davis Cup title after settling for runner-up on four previous occasions. Meanwhile, Cilic’s Croatia will be bidding to win their second title after 2005 on home territory. Depending on the outcome of the first two days of the tour, del Potro and Cilic could go head-to-head in a decisive match on Sunday.
“Marin is a good player, I’ve known him since (he was) 12 years old and we’ve had a similar career,” said Del Potro.
“He’s a very good friend of mine on the tour. He deserves to be number six in the world at the moment. He’s a great player and he has a chance to win this trophy this weekend, but we will try and win as well!”
In previous matches between the two, there has been mainly joy for the Argentine, with him leading Cilic 8-2 in their head-to-head. On the other hand, the two haven’t played each other since taking to the hard-courts of the 2013 Paris Open.
“I know him very, very good, but it doesn’t matter the matches we played before because now is different conditions for me,” said Del Potro.
Lifting the Davis Cup trophy is still something fresh in the memory of Cilic. In 2005 he was part of the winning team, watching Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic seal the title from the sidelines. This time round, Cilic is eager to follow the footsteps of his predecessors.
“It was a huge achievement for our team, winning in 2005,” Cilic recounted. “We hope we can continue with this good run.”
The outcome of the tie isn’t just down to the performance of former US Open champions del Potro and Cilic. One player making history in the tie will be Ivo Karlovic. At the age of 37, the Croat will be the oldest player to participate in a Davis Cup singles matches since Norman Brooks in 1920.
“I would like to be a little younger, but that is life, we all have to get old one day, it’s good that I’m still here,” said Karlovic.
The 2016 final will be held at the Arena Zagreb in Croatia. Argentina has never lost to Croatia in the Davis Cup, winning all three of their previous encounters in 2002, 2006 and 2012.
The Davis Cup final schedule
Friday, 25/11
R1 Marin Cilic (No6) vs Federico Delbonis (No41)
R2 Ivo Karlovic (No20) vs Juan Martin del Potro (No38)
Saturday, 26/11
R3 Ivan Dodig and Franko Skugor vs Guido Pella and Leonardo Mayer
Sunday, 27/11
R4 Cilic (No6) vs del Potro (No38)
R5 Karlovic (No20) vs Delbonis (No41)
