By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, November 26, 2016
Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig defeated Juan Martin del Potro and Leonardo Mayer, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3 in Zagreb staking host Croatia to a 2-1 lead over Argentina in the best-of-five match Davis Cup final.
Photo credit: Davis Cup
Exuding energy and urgency, Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig prevailed in doubles to put Croatia one win from its second Davis Cup championship.
Cilic and Dodig defeated Juan Martin del Potro and Leonardo Mayer, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3 in Zagreb staking host Croatia to a 2-1 lead over Argentina in the best-of-five match Davis Cup final.
More: Del Potro Downs Karlovic
"I was feeling proud to be sharing the court with my best friend," Cilic told Craig Gabriel afterward. "We grew up together and this year we produced unbelievable tennis for our country. All credit to Ivan... It was just an amazing experience."
Croatia can clinch its second Davis Cup championship tomorrow when Cilic faces del Potro in a battle of former US Open champions.
If del Potro, who has won eight of 10 meetings with Cilic, including a straight-sets win in the 2012 Davis Cup quarterfinals, prevails then Ivo Karlovic is scheduled to face Federico Delbonis in the decisive fifth match.
Over the last decade, the team that has won the critical doubles point has gone on to win eight of the last 10 Davis Cup finals.
Cilic and Dodig scored their third doubles victory of this Davis Cup season to put their nation on the brink of its first Davis Cup since 2005.
"Obvioiusly, it's a bit different tennis than in singles," Dodig said. "There is a couple of things you have to do different. For me it's great to play with Marin. We really enjoyed it on court. The crowd was amazing."
Argentina earned the first break point of the match in the third game, but Dodig erased it and held for 2-1.
Del Potro issued a love hold to force the tie break.
Croatia's aggression and some jittery volleys from Mayer helped the home side take charge of the breaker.
Poaching quickly, Dodig knifed a volley winner for the mini break. A mis-hit Cilic return skimmed the net handcuffing del Potro to give Croatia a 3-0 lead.
Mayer, who had played so solidly throughout the set, couldn't handle a dipping Dodig topspin forehand pass at net. He compounded that miscue blocking a backhand volley long as Croatia stretched the lead to 5-1. Cilic crunched successive service winners sealing the 55-minute opener and sending Croatian fans into a singing, shouting frenzy.
Argentina saved a break point on del Potro's serve to open the second set. Two games later, Mayer felt the double break-point pressure. Dodig hit a stab volley winner as the home side broke for 2-1.
A badly botched Dodig volley gave Argentina break point on Cilic's serve. In a duel of down the line forehands between former US Open champions, del Potro drew an errant forehand as Argentina broke for the first time, leveling at 4-all.
Tie break tension struck all four men resulting in five straight mini-breaks, including back-to-back double faults from Dodig and Mayer. Cilic finally stopped the streak of breaks banging an ace down the middle for 4-2.
When Mayer netted a volley, Croatia had its fourth mini break and a 5-4 lead. Del Potro sailed a rally forehand and Cilic snapped off an easy volley as Croatia snatched a two-set lead after two hours.
An energized Croatian tandem took it to Mayer in the sixth game of the third set. Dodig blistered a backhand at Mayer's feet for triple break point. Two points later, Mayer flagged a forehand into net as Croatia broke for 4-2.
Cilic cranked heavy serves and closed the two hour, 42-minute victory when Mayer's return landed long.