Cilic started the match off with a break for 3-1. Cilic kept his break until Sock broke back to 4-4. Sock then crumbled under pressure, when serving to stay in the set at 4-5. Sock only got 47% first serves in, while Cilic won an astonishing 83% of points after first serve. The second set brought a string of breaks between 1-1 and 3-3, which was inconclusive as either player got 2 breaks each. Cilic then broke for 5-3 and served the second set out. Sock presented even worse stats, winning only 41% of his service points, and making 16 unforced errors. Sock turned his game around, winning the next two sets with only 1 break in each set 6-3 6-4. Then came the final set. Cilic took an early break of 3-0, but Sock broke back to 2-3. The match was level until Sock broke Cilic to 5-4. Sock then served out the match after 3 hours and 16 minutes 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.
John Isner was faced with Croatia team No. 2, Borna Coric. The young Croat has not had a good season, and that has not changed here. Coric really held it together during the first set, and was really dangerous on return. Coric got a total of 5 break points in the first set, but all were turned away. In the end, it was Isner who got the break in the first set. The American broke Coric and won the first set 6-4. The second set followed a similar scenario, in which Coric got 3 break points, but still ended up being broken and losing the set 6-4. Isner got an early break in the third set for 3-1, and that was the only break point in the set. The American won the match 6-4 6-4 6-3 after 2 hours and a minute, putting America to a 2-0 lead.
On Saturday, the Bryan Brothers will have a chance to seal the deal for USA in Portland, Oregon, when they face Croatia’s doubles team, most probably Ivan Dodig and Marin Draganja.
