MADRID (AFP) – Novak Djokovic defeated Marin Cilic for the 18th time on Friday (Dec 3) to maintain Serbia alive of their Davis Cup semi-final conflict with Croatia.
The world primary, unbeaten in singles within the match since 2011, triumphed 6-4, 6-2 to tug Serbia degree at 1-1 within the tie.
It was the 20-time Grand Slam title winner’s nineteenth successive Davis Cup win.
Earlier Borna Gojo, ranked a lowly 279, pulled off a shock win over world quantity 33 Dusan Lajovic, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to provide Croatia the sting.
The semi-final might be determined when Djokovic and Filip Krajinovic, a late alternative for Nikola Cacic, sort out the world primary pairing of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic within the doubles.
Mektic and Pavic are the Wimbledon and Olympic champions.
Cilic, a former world quantity three now down at 30, carved out eight break factors on the Djokovic serve however was unable to transform a single one.
Gojo has performed effectively above his world rating within the match up to now and confirmed actual mettle towards Lajovic to come back again from a set down, particularly after letting slip a 4-2 and 40-0 lead within the first set, dropping 17 of the subsequent 18 factors.
He additionally noticed off Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego (ranked 27) within the quarter-final and Australia’s Alexei Popyrin (67) within the group phases.
“Within the first set I used to be up 4-2 40-0, I used to be in management, I slipped in that sport there. I obtained down on myself just a little bit, however then the captain and the groups and the followers picked me again up,” mentioned Gojo.
“Clearly, Davis Cup is a particular competitors the place the strain is larger on everybody and I managed to play a few of my greatest tennis right here at this match.
“I’m very glad that I managed to get these massive wins, rating clever, however for me it’s extra vital that I managed to get the purpose for the crew.”
Serbia have defeated their Balkan neighbours of their two earlier Davis Cup conferences.
The primary got here in Cut up in 2010 when Serbia received 4-1 within the quarter-finals en path to profitable the competitors.
Additionally they romped to a 5-0 thrashing in 2015.
Serbia, who crept by way of to the final eight as one of many two greatest runners-up, are bidding to succeed in a 3rd Davis Cup ultimate and two-time winners Croatia, who topped their group, a fourth.
The winners will face both Russia or Germany, who play on Saturday, in Sunday’s ultimate.