The first day of the Davis Cup Finals in Zagreb between Croatia and Argentina took place on Friday with a win for Marin Cilic and a loss for Ivo Karlovic. The two nations are currently tied 1-1.
ATP reports that after nearly three and a half hours of tennis and five sets between Marin Cilic and Federico Delbonis, Cilic brought Croatia the lead against Argentina in the first match final of the Davis Cup with 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2.
“The crowd helped me to stay in there, it was not easy,” said Cilic, who is now 22-9 in singles rubbers. “Federico played a great tennis from the middle of the third set to the end of the fourth. Just at the beginning of the fifth, I tried mentally to stay in there and get that break, and it was a huge difference,” Cilic added.
In the second match of the Davis Cup Finals, Croatian Ivo Karlovic bravely fought against Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro. However, the Croatian tennis player failed to prevent equalization, giving Del Potro a reason to celebrate in Zagreb with 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5.
“I did not play well at the start and I was not able to control his services. I tried to fight as much as I could, but it was not enough today. The atmosphere was phenomenal, I was constantly lifted by the fans whenever we needed it. Without them this would be even more difficult. I hope that in the next two days the fans will come in large numbers,” said Karlovic on Index.hr.
Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Marin Cilic will take on Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer and Juan Martin Del Potro in today’s doubles.
