Croatia Edges United States to Reach Davis Cup Final

September 17, 2018 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Borna Coric (7)
Photo Credit: LI Tennis Magazine

 

The United States was within one set of reach the Davis Cup Final on Sunday, but it was not to be as Borna Coric rallied to beat Frances Tiafoe 6-7(0), 6-1, 6-7(11), 6-1, 6-3 in the fifth rubber on Sunday.

Having dropped the semifinal’s first two matches on Friday, the United States faced an up-hill battle entering the weekend. Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison won a fifth set tiebreaker against Mate Pavic and Ivan Dodig, and Sam Querrey defeated Martin Cilic 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-4 to send the match to a deciding rubber.

In what had already been a thrilling couple of days of tennis, Coric and Tiafoe delivered a great showdown on Sunday.

Tiafoe outlasted Coric in a third-set tiebreak to take a two-sets-to-one lead, but Coric responded by winning 12 of the next 16 games to storm back and send Croatia into the final.

“This is the most special moment of my whole life—by far,” said Coric. “If there were not [fan support], I would lose in the fourth set for sure, because my head was deep in the water.”

Despite the defeat, United States captain Jim Courier loved what he say from Tiafoe and his team throughout the weekend.

“To have a rookie perform the way that Frances did in the fifth match is very impressive,” he said. “What Sam did, turning his match around, was kind of mind-boggling. So there’s a lot to process from today. I’m still not sure I’m there. We’re sort of taking it all in right now, because it’s been minute by minute today.

I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. They laid it all out there, fought hard, played as well as they could.”

Croatia will play France in the finals. France defeated Spain 3-2 over the weekend. 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Pointset
Century

March/April 2024 Digital Edition