ZADAR, Croatia: Croatia sealed their ticket to the Davis Cup final after Marin Cilic’s three sets victory over Richard Gasquet gave them an unassailable 3-1 lead over nine-time champions France in Zadar.
Croatia, titleholders only once in 2005, will face the winner of the other semifinal between holders Great Britain and Argentina in the November final.
Cilic bagged the all-important point in the first of Sunday’s reverse singles, seeing off Gasquet 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
“When you look at the atmosphere, it’s an incredible feeling. It’s been a dream weekend for us,” said 2014 US Open winner Cilic.
“I played incredible tennis. I produced a great performance for all the crowd.”
Gasquet, 17th in the world, was drafted in after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils pulled out with knee injuries.
The 30-year-old Gasquet, initially overlooked by captain Yannick Noah after struggling with back and chest injuries, claimed the opening singles 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 against Borna Coric.
But world No. 11 Cilic hit back against Lucas Pouille 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-2 to put the Croats level.
Croatia had taken command of the tie in Saturday’s doubles when Cilic and Ivan Dodig downed top-ranked French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
Croatia’s previous Davis Cup success came 11 years ago at the expense of Slovakia
Murray draws Britain level
In Glasgow, Andy Murray hauled Great Britain level in their Davis Cup semifinal with Argentina following his comprehensive defeat of Guido Pella on Sunday.
The world No.2, who had played over eight hours of tennis over the previous two days, had to leave the court for a medical timeout in the third set.
But he returned to wrap up a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Pella in the first reverse singles rubber to make it 2-2 in the best-of-five tie.
It gives defending champions Great Britain hope of pulling off a repeat of their win over Russia in Coventry in April 2013 when they also came back from 2-0 down to win the tie 3-2.
Dan Evans was to face Leonardo Mayer, a late replacement for Juan Martin del Potro, in the deciding rubber.
The winners will face Croatia in November’s final.
The South Americans had led 2-1 going into Sunday’s reverse singles following wins for del Potro and Pella in Friday’s singles.
However, Murray, who partnered his big brother Jamie to doubles success on Saturday, made light work of Pella to claim his 30th win from 33 Davis Cup singles matches in just over two hours.
“It is great to level the tie. We were in lot of trouble a couple of days ago but this is the best we could have hoped for. Now Dan has got a chance to go out and get the job done,” Murray said.
“I have a lot of sharp pain in my right quad. I have to go and see what’s up and get some treatment. I need a break. I have played so much tennis, my body needs some rest.”
It leaves Britain in with a chance of retaining the title they won against Belgium last year.
Needing just one point to claim a place in their fourth final in 10 years, Argentina captain Daniel Orsanic kept faith with Pella, who saw off the challenge of Kyle Edmund in four sets on Friday, for the showdown with the world No.2.
Russia back on world stage
Andrei Kuznetsov’s win against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in Moscow on Sunday secured Russia’s return to the World Group after a four-year absence.
Kuznetsov’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win lifted Russia into an unassailable 3-1 lead and into the elite group for the first time since 2012.
Kuznetsov, ranked 47th in the world, broke Kukushkin’s serve twice in both the first and second sets for a commanding two-set lead after just over an hour on court.
In the third set, the 25-year-old Russian broke his opponent twice.
“I managed to keep concentration throughout the match,” Kuznetsov said in interview on Russian television.
“And we will all be happy to play for our country in the World Group next year.”
Earlier, Konstantin Kravchuk and Andrey Rublev beat Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Andrey Golubev 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 7-5 in under three hours in the doubles
Spain whitewashes India
Spain capped their return to the World Group by completing a 5-0 whitewash against India in New Delhi on Sunday.
World No.4 Rafael Nadal was rested for the two dead rubbers on the final day as Marc Lopez and David Ferrer maintained Spain’s dominance in the World Group play-off tie.
Marc Lopez beat Sumit Nagal 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 while Ferrer outclassed Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-2, 6-2 in the reverse singles matches at Delhi’s RK Khanna Tennis Stadium.
Struff rescues Germany
Jan-Lennard Struff rescued Germany in Sunday’s final singles rubber to preserve their World Group status by sealing a narrow 3-2 play-off win against Poland.
Kamil Majchrzak’s shock win over Florian Mayer earlier had put Poland back in the relegation play-off in Berlin by levelling at 2-2 after his team had lost both opening rubbers.
But Struff’s 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-1 win over Hubert Hurkacz in Sunday’s final tie saw Germany narrowly avoid their first relegation from the Davis Cup’s elite group for 13 years.
Croatia, titleholders only once in 2005, will face the winner of the other semifinal between holders Great Britain and Argentina in the November final.
Cilic bagged the all-important point in the first of Sunday’s reverse singles, seeing off Gasquet 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
“When you look at the atmosphere, it’s an incredible feeling. It’s been a dream weekend for us,” said 2014 US Open winner Cilic.
“I played incredible tennis. I produced a great performance for all the crowd.”
Gasquet, 17th in the world, was drafted in after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils pulled out with knee injuries.
The 30-year-old Gasquet, initially overlooked by captain Yannick Noah after struggling with back and chest injuries, claimed the opening singles 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 against Borna Coric.
But world No. 11 Cilic hit back against Lucas Pouille 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-2 to put the Croats level.
Croatia had taken command of the tie in Saturday’s doubles when Cilic and Ivan Dodig downed top-ranked French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
Croatia’s previous Davis Cup success came 11 years ago at the expense of Slovakia
Murray draws Britain level
In Glasgow, Andy Murray hauled Great Britain level in their Davis Cup semifinal with Argentina following his comprehensive defeat of Guido Pella on Sunday.
The world No.2, who had played over eight hours of tennis over the previous two days, had to leave the court for a medical timeout in the third set.
But he returned to wrap up a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Pella in the first reverse singles rubber to make it 2-2 in the best-of-five tie.
It gives defending champions Great Britain hope of pulling off a repeat of their win over Russia in Coventry in April 2013 when they also came back from 2-0 down to win the tie 3-2.
Dan Evans was to face Leonardo Mayer, a late replacement for Juan Martin del Potro, in the deciding rubber.
The winners will face Croatia in November’s final.
The South Americans had led 2-1 going into Sunday’s reverse singles following wins for del Potro and Pella in Friday’s singles.
However, Murray, who partnered his big brother Jamie to doubles success on Saturday, made light work of Pella to claim his 30th win from 33 Davis Cup singles matches in just over two hours.
“It is great to level the tie. We were in lot of trouble a couple of days ago but this is the best we could have hoped for. Now Dan has got a chance to go out and get the job done,” Murray said.
“I have a lot of sharp pain in my right quad. I have to go and see what’s up and get some treatment. I need a break. I have played so much tennis, my body needs some rest.”
It leaves Britain in with a chance of retaining the title they won against Belgium last year.
Needing just one point to claim a place in their fourth final in 10 years, Argentina captain Daniel Orsanic kept faith with Pella, who saw off the challenge of Kyle Edmund in four sets on Friday, for the showdown with the world No.2.
Russia back on world stage
Andrei Kuznetsov’s win against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in Moscow on Sunday secured Russia’s return to the World Group after a four-year absence.
Kuznetsov’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win lifted Russia into an unassailable 3-1 lead and into the elite group for the first time since 2012.
Kuznetsov, ranked 47th in the world, broke Kukushkin’s serve twice in both the first and second sets for a commanding two-set lead after just over an hour on court.
In the third set, the 25-year-old Russian broke his opponent twice.
“I managed to keep concentration throughout the match,” Kuznetsov said in interview on Russian television.
“And we will all be happy to play for our country in the World Group next year.”
Earlier, Konstantin Kravchuk and Andrey Rublev beat Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Andrey Golubev 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 7-5 in under three hours in the doubles
Spain whitewashes India
Spain capped their return to the World Group by completing a 5-0 whitewash against India in New Delhi on Sunday.
World No.4 Rafael Nadal was rested for the two dead rubbers on the final day as Marc Lopez and David Ferrer maintained Spain’s dominance in the World Group play-off tie.
Marc Lopez beat Sumit Nagal 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 while Ferrer outclassed Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-2, 6-2 in the reverse singles matches at Delhi’s RK Khanna Tennis Stadium.
Struff rescues Germany
Jan-Lennard Struff rescued Germany in Sunday’s final singles rubber to preserve their World Group status by sealing a narrow 3-2 play-off win against Poland.
Kamil Majchrzak’s shock win over Florian Mayer earlier had put Poland back in the relegation play-off in Berlin by levelling at 2-2 after his team had lost both opening rubbers.
But Struff’s 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-1 win over Hubert Hurkacz in Sunday’s final tie saw Germany narrowly avoid their first relegation from the Davis Cup’s elite group for 13 years.
