2016 meltdown haunts Cilic
DAVIS CUP FINAL: CROATIAN WANTS TO MAKE AMENDS
Lille
Marin Cilic heads into this weekend’s Davis Cup final against reigning champions France in Lille bidding to put his woes against Argentina two years ago to bed by leading Croatia to victory.
The former US Open champion led Juan Martin del Potro by two sets in the 2016 final in Zagreb with the hosts only needing one more win for the title, but slipped to an agonising defeat as Argentina roared back to lift the trophy.
But now he has the chance to claim a first Davis Cup in the final year before the controversial new format is implemented by the ITF.
Croatia will be slight favourites despite having to face France on clay at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, with world No 12 Borna Coric supporting the seventh-ranked Cilic.
“Two years ago, we were in the lead on the last day and very close to winning it,” remembered Cilic.
France’s leading man is Lucas Pouille, who has slipped out of the top 10 to 32nd in the rankings this year, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is struggling to regain full fitness after several spells off the court through injury.
But Cilic, who also reached the 2017 Wimbledon final and the Australian Open final earlier this year, is wary of a France team that ended a 16-year wait for their 10th Davis Cup crown by beating Belgium 12 months ago.
“It’s hard to say Croatia are favourites,” he insisted.
“France are playing at home, in front of their home fans. They have a strong doubles team – it’s an open match.”
One of the keys to the tie will be whether the big-hitting Cilic and Coric can adapt to playing on clay after a long hardcourt season.
The 30-year-old Cilic has won only two of his 18 ATP titles on the red dirt, although has improved and reached the French Open quarterfinals in each of the last two years.
The doubles pairing is not an issue, with Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut set to reprise the partnership which took them to the final of the season-ending ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London. –