CROATIA is through to the semi-finals of the 2021 Davis Cup Finals after defeating Italy in Turin overnight. The Croatians sealed the deal courtesy of their number one doubles combination in the deciding match, after Borna Gojo produced a huge upset to defeat Lorenzo Sonego in three sets. Facing a straight sets exit, Jannik Sinner looked down and out against Croatian Marin Cilic before fighting back to win. It ended up being for nothing as the pairing of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic secured the win over Sinner and Fabio Fognini in the doubles.

The tie was touted as the one to watch across the Davis Cup quarter finals, and it lived up to its billing with both singles matches going down to the wire. The 276th ranked Gojo was heavy underdog against the 27th ranked Sonego, but stood up in the opening set to win it in a tiebreaker, 7-2. The Top 30 Italian got the match back on his terms in the second set, before Gojo again swung it his way to win in two hours and 19 minutes, 7-6 2-6 6-2 and give Croatia the massive advantage early.

Gojo served serve aces to five, but also produced five doubles faults to one. He served at a far higher success rate though, winning 73 to 60 per cent of his first serve points, and hit 20 winner to 17. The Croatian also hit three less unforced errors (21-24) and saved seven break points to break twice in the second set to secure the victory.

With Italy on the ropes, young gun Sinner found himself a set and a break down, and his opponent Cilic serving for the match. The Croatian had produced an outstanding performance against his higher ranked opponent to be leading 6-3 5-4. Remarkably, Sinner broke back in a crucial effort in the 10th game, then went 6-5 up, before holding off a determined Cilic in the tiebreaker, 7-4. He went on with it in the deciding set, carrying that momentum to win 3-6 7-6 6-3 in two hours and 43 minutes.

Cilic served 10 aces to three and hit 25 winners to 12 for the match, but Sinner was the more reliable of the two. The Italian youngster produced a 68 and 53 per cent success rate off a 63 per cent clip, compared to the Croatian veteran’s 64 and 43 off 60. Sinner also broke five times to four, and only hit 11 unforced errros to 30, standing up in the final set to secure the tie-levelling win.

Unfortunately for the home fans, the decision to keep Sinner as the doubles partner with Fognini rather than use world number four Simone Bolelli did not work out. The Croatian pairing of Mektic and Pavic won in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 to secure the overall tie victory and book Croatia’s spot in the final four.

They will have a few days to rest after the performance, which featured five aces and 21 winners to the Italian duo’s two and 15. They also broke twice, though to Sinner and Fognini’s credit, it could have been a lot worse. Mektic and Pavic showed the importance of a specialist doubles pairing, creating 25 break point chances and never looked like losing.

Croatia will now take on the winner of Serbia and Kazakhstan in the semi-finals.

RESULTS:

Borna Gojo (CRO) defeated Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 7-6 2-6 6-2
Jannik Sinner (ITA) defeated Marin Cilic (CRO) 3-6 7-6 6-3
N. Mektic/M. Pavic (CRO) defeated F. Fognini/J. Sinner (ITA) 6-3 6-4

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