Davis Cup: Croatia Shock Italy To Reach Semis

By Daily Sports on November 30, 2021

Croatia will next face either Novak Djokovic’s Serbia or Kazakhstan in the semifinals in Madrid.

“Honestly, it feels incredible. I don’t think anyone expected us to get this far and it feels amazing to be going to Madrid,” said Mektic.

Croatia are bidding for a third Davis Cup title and second in three stagings of the event after lifting the trophy in 2018. Last year’s edition was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This win confirms their place at next year’s Davis Cup Finals, with the four semifinalists guaranteed qualification. Croatia dumped out much-fancied Italy in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Monday as Olympic men’s doubles champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic brushed aside Jannik Sinner and Fabio Fognini in a deciding match.

The Italians were one of the favourites for the title but paid for Lorenzo Sonego’s shock defeat by world number 279 Borna Gojo in the first singles rubber in Turin.

Singles world number 10 Sinner forced a deciding doubles with a dramatic victory over Marin Cilic, but he could not complete the job against the top two ranked doubles players as Mektic and Pavic won 6-3, 6-4 to silence the home crowd.

“It was very tight but my players fought so well. I'm so happy,” said Croatian captain Vedran Martic.

Mektic and Pavic were the stronger pair throughout the doubles, with Fognini’s serve often targeted. They needed six set points to take the opener despite dominating, but wrapped up victory on their first match point in the second set as Pavic fired down an ace. Earlier, rising star Sinner battled back from a set and a break down to beat Cilic and force the doubles rubber.

Italy were facing a quick exit in Turin when former US Open champion Cilic served for the match when leading 5-4 in the second set. But Sinner fought back from the brink, breaking to love before taking a tie-break and going on to win 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. Gojo beat Sonego 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 6-2 to give Croatia the first point.

The Croatian overcame a hesitant start, with the 23-year-old trailing the 27th-ranked Sonego 4-1 in northern Italy, before coming back from 5-3 down to take the first set in a tie-break.

Sonego, 26, powered back in the second set but dropped serve early in the final set at 2-1, with over 30 unforced errors allowing Gojo to win in 2 hours and 20 minutes. (SuperSport)

•PHOTO: The victorious Croatia Davis Cup Stars

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 30, 2021


 

You may also like...
Newcastle listed for sale

Rangers International At 51: The Journey So Far...

Mario Balotelli Suffers Racist Abuse, Threatens Walk-Off

Super Eagles Battle Cape Verde In Make-Or-Mar Clash...

Chelsea Beat Barcelona to Win Rakuten Cup

Boniface banned, fined €25,000 for offensive gesture

 

Latest News Aribo ready to fight for EPL survival Adesanya vows to make UFC return after third straight loss We Apologize To Our Father Dr Peter Odili On Behalf Of His Children Who Have Gone Astray – Edison Ehie Aston Villa closing in on Rashford loan deal Adesanya aims for comeback as UFC lands in Saudi Alonso delighted with Boniface stay EPL: Wood’s hat-trick fires Nottingham Forest to 7-0 thrashing of Brighton PDP Governors Announce Date For Party’s NEC Meeting PDP governors back Appeal Court verdict, endorse Ude Okoye as national secretary Everton plot £33m Awoniyi move Barcelona’s Pedri extends contract to 2030 Boniface rejoins Leverkusen training after failed Saudi transfer

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,270 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,425 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,456 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,101 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,050 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,039 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,849 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,413 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,500 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,150 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,591 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,020 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media