Davis Cup: Croatia Beats Colombia in Bogota to Seal World Group Spot
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Croatia took on Colombia (Photo: Davis Cup)
LATEST: COLOMBIA 1-2 CROATIA
Sunday 17 September – Singles
Marin Čilić – Santiago Giraldo – 6:3, 6:4, 6:4
Saturday 16 September – Doubles
Cabal/Falla – Mektić/Čilić – 7:5, 7:6, 4:6, 2:6, 4:6
Friday 15 September – Singles
Marin Čilić – Alejandro González – 6:1, 6:4, 6:1
Santiago Giraldo – Franko Škugor – 6:4, 4:6, 5:7, 6:4, 6-2
World No.5 Marin Cilic has almost single-handedly given Croatia a 3-1 victory over Colombia in their Davis Cup World Group play-off in Bogota over the weekend.
??? @cilic_marin fires 3 consecutive aces & ensures Croatia stays in the #DavisCup World Group for 2018 pic.twitter.com/sLBReQQfYR
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 17, 2017
As expected on Friday Cilic was too strong for Colombia’s Alejandro González in the opening rubber, winning in straight sets 6:1, 6:4, 6:1 to give Croatia a 1-0 lead.
Job done for @MarinCilic, who sees off Alejandro Gonzalez 61 64 61 to give ?? a 1-0 lead over ?? in Bogota! #COLCRO #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/mRK0yGrTJM
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 15, 2017
In the second match of the day Santiago Giraldo leveled the tie by beating Franko Škugor in a five-set thriller which saw the Colombian come back from 2 sets to 1 down to take it in the fifth after close to four hours on court.
Marin turned out in the doubles on Saturday (Photo: Croatian Tennis Association)
In the doubles on Saturday Marin Čilić paired up with Nikola Mektić to give Croatia a 2-1 lead going into Sunday’s reverse singles.
What a comeback! @cilic_marin and Nikola Mektic win 57 67(5) 64 62 64 in just under 4 hours to give ?? a 2-1 lead over ??! pic.twitter.com/8xIhVMY2tQ
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 16, 2017
The Croatians would come back from 2 sets down to win a five-set thriller 7:5, 7:6, 4:6, 2:6, 4:6 in just on four hours against Colombia’s Cabal and Falla.
On Sunday it was Čilić again who would seal the win with a convincing straight sets win over Santiago Giraldo 6:3, 6:4, 6:4.
Croatia was missing three members of the team which took on Argentina in the 2016 Davis Cup final in Zagreb.
Borna Coric (unavailable), Ivo Karlovic (retired internationals) and doubles specialist Ivan Dodig (retired international) were all missing in Bogota.
