Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig defeated Juan Martin Del Potro and Leonardo Mayer 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 6-3 to give Croatia a 2-1 lead over Argentina in the Davis cup final.
Heading into the crucial doubles rubber on Saturday, Croatian pair Main Cilic and Ivan Dodig were heavy favourites after beating France’s Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicolas Mahut in the semifinals and also defeating USA’s Bob and Mike Bryan in the quarterfinals. However despite being labelled the ‘underdogs’ the Argentinian duo started the brightest as they served effectively and created a break point opportunity in the third game. However the Croatians held their own and denied the Argentinian’s the early break. Both teams were serving well and moving well around the net, as a result the first set went to a tiebreak. The tiebreak saw Marin Cilic dominate for the Croatians and the duo grabbed the first set 7-6(2) in 54 minutes.
In the second set Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig started to pick up momentum and in the third game the siezed their opportunity and broke to 15 to edge ahead at 2-1. However the Argentinian’s fought back and Juan Martin Del Potro inspired them to break back and level the second set at 4-4. Both teams were serving well and both Del Potro and Dodig were playing good doubles for their respective countries. So for the second set in a row, it went to a tiebreak. At the beginning of the tiebreak, it was dominated by the returners as the first five points went against the serve. However Ivan Dodig gained control of the tiebreak and the doubles specialist served it out to take the tiebreaker 7-4. This is how Croatia put themselves two sets to love up on Argentina in the all important doubles rubber:
Watch #Cilic and #Dodig take a 2-0 lead over #DelPotro and #Mayer in the crucial #DavisCupFinal doubles rubber pic.twitter.com/MKChnCU7E5
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 26, 2016
At the beggining of the third set both teams provided some great shotmaking and remained dominant on serve. However once again the Croatian pair showed their doubles dominance to break for a 4-2 lead. The one break was enough for Cilic and Dodig who served out the match to 15 to grab the victory in two hours and 42 minutes and give Croatia a 2-1 lead heading into Sunday’s reverse singles.
So Marin Cilic can win Croatia’s first Davis cup for two years when he battles Juan Martin Del Potro in a gigantic clash. If Del Potro wins then the Davis cup title will be decided between Ivo Karlovic and Federico Delbonis. Tomorrow should be an interesting day of drama and passion. Who will become the 2016 Davis cup winners Croatia or Argentina? We will find out tomorrow.
