The United States almost mounted a legendary Davis Cup comeback, but Croatia managed to hold off the visitors 3-2 in a thrilling semifinal. Borna Coric won the clincher 6-7(0), 6-1, 6-7(11), 6-1, 6-3 over Frances Tiafoe after four hours and six minutes on Sunday afternoon.
Croatia probably should never have found itself on the brink of defeat in front of the home crowd in Zadar. The Croats were two points away from sweeping the tie 3-0 when Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison were serving down 5-6, 15-30 in the fifth set of Saturday’s doubles rubber. After the host nation lost that marathon, No. 1 singles player Marin Cilic led Sam Querrey by a set and 6-1 in the second-set tiebreaker during Sunday’s first singles match. Unbelievably, Querrey saved five consecutive set points, eventually evened the match, and went on to score a 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-4 upset.
That set the stage for a roller-coaster ride between Coric and Tiafoe. The 20-year-old American stole two of the first three sets in ‘breakers, but on each occasion Coric answered with a breadstick in the ensuing frame. Too solid in the fifth, the 21-year-old Croat broke for a 3-2 lead and earned another scalp of the Tiafoe serve at 5-3 to clinch victory.
Coric-Tiafoe highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqr1EO3iM40
Croatia will visit France in late November in a showdown for the final Davis Cup title before the competition format changes drastically starting next season.
It is the same matchup that took place in this summer’s World Cup final, won by France 4-2.
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fun tie
Indeed. Although in my view it was more of a legendary collapse by Croatia than a comeback by the US. The last match between Coric and Tiafoe was the worst match this side of Verdasco v Acasuso (2008) Still, Davis Cup at its finest. RIP.
Great comeback by Team USA…almost pulled it off. I’ll take Le Bleu in the Finals.