Karlovic back for Davis Cup final

Ivo Karlovic is to return to Croatia’s squad for the Davis Cup final against Argentina in November after a fouryear absence, team captain Zeljko Krajan said on Monday.

“Karlovic returns to the squad — this is the most important news that we could have got,” Krajan told reporters.

Karlovic, ranked world No 20, made the decision to come back as teenage star Borna Coric faces knee surgery, making him a doubt for the final.

Coric’s absence would heap pressure on Ivan Do dig to play both the singles and doubles despite nursing injuries, Krajan said.

Karlovic “understood the situation that we are facing ... He had mercy, he realized we needed another player of his quality,” Krajan said.

Karlovic, 37, withdraw from the squad in 2012 explaining that he wanted to focus on his own career.

The 19-year-old Coric will undergo an operation on his right knee on Tuesday, but Krajan said he has not yet ruled out the youngster.

“Rehabilitation after such a surgery is between four and eight weeks ... He is still in the squad and I hope that he will contribute.”

Croatia — who won its only Davis Cup title in 2005 — beat nine-time champion France 3-1 in the semifinals earlier this month.

World No 42 Coric, already playing in pain due to injuring his knee at Cincinnati in August, was defeated by Richard Gasquet 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

The Davis Cup final takes place from Nov 25 to 27 in Zagreb.