The
Croatian team came into the final day of the final knowing that a single win
would steer them to the title for the first time since 2005. The opening match
on the final day would be contested by Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro,
both former US Open champions. Croatia comes into the final day as the
favourites, especially with Argentina feeling the massive amount of pressure
after being down 2-1. However, Del Potro would come into this match as the
favourite because he has an 8-2 head to head record against Marin Cilic, and he
would want to make it 9-2 after this match.
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| The battle of the former US Open champions. Photo by Getty Images |
1st Set: Cilic gets the headstart
Cilic
started the match perfectly, winning the first 8 of 9 points to open the match,
including breaking Del Potro’s serve to love. Del Potro had 5 break point
opportunities to break back at 3-1, but Cilic showed nerves of steel by holding
his serve in a very tough game. Del Potro finally broke back at 4-2, taking
advantage of the 2nd serves hit by Cilic. There were no more breaks
in the set, with both players’ serves looking very solid. The set went to a
tiebreak, and Cilic dominated the tiebreak. Cilic won the first 5 points to go
5-0 up, and just be 2 points away from winning the first set. Cilic then lost 4
of the next 5 points, but managed to calm his nerves and close out the set 7-6.
2nd Set: Cilic gets closer to win
Down 1-2
in the 2nd set, Cilic played his best tennis of the weekend to win 5
games in a row to win the second set 6-2, and put himself in a good position to
seal the tie and the title for Croatia. Cilic won 93% of first service points
in the set, but only won 50% of points behind his second serve. Whereas for Del
Potro, his serving stats were slightly disappointing as he only won 25% of
second service points.
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| Cilic hits a backhand during the match. Photo by Reuters |
3rd Set: Del Potro fights back
Del Potro
had the perfect start to the 3rd set, a set that he has to win to
stay in the match, by holding his serve comfortably and having 2 break point
opportunities on Cilic’s serve. However, 3 aces and a strong forehand winner
allowed Cilic to save the break point and hold his serve. There were no breaks
of serve in the set until the 12th game, when Del Potro hit a
forehand volley winner past Cilic to win the break and the set to mount a
formidable comeback to the match.
4th Set: Del Potro gets back level
The 4th
set was full of high quality tennis with both players playing their best
tennis, hitting numerous winners and aces. With the score on serve at 5-4,
Cilic was serving to stay in the set. Similar to the 3rd set, Del
Potro once again broke at the very end of the set to clinch it and bring the
match level. After the first 2 sets, no one would have thought that Del Potro
would bring the match back level.
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| Del Potro fighting on. Photo by Reuters |
5th Set: Del Potro seals comeback and rubber for Argentina
Cilic
looked on course for a second consecutive 5 set win after being up by 2 sets
when he broke Del Potro’s serve immediately in the opening game of the final
set. Just when Cilic thought he had the match in his hands, Del Potro came up
with some very good returns to break back immediately to level the match once
again. There were no more breaks of serve until the 8th game, where
Del Potro broke Cilic’s serve to lead 5-3 and have the opportunity to serve for
the match and make Argentina back level in the tie. He did not disappoint the
thousands of away fans that travelled all the way from Argentina to Zagreb for
the final, by successfully serving out the match to successfully mount an
incredible comeback to keep Argentina in the tie and keep their hopes for a 1st
ever Davis Cup title well alive.
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| Del Potro after he won the match for Argentina. Photo by Reuters |
“I am delighted to have won an important match for my team. I think I played much better in the third set, my forehand got better and so did my baseline shots. I was positive all the time and did not let my head drop after going two sets down. This was an emotionally exhausting match and one of the biggest wins of my career." (Adapted from official Davis Cup website)
Highlights from the match: