Russia won his third Davis Cup this Sunday by winning 2-0 to Croatia in the final, after the victory of Daniil Medvedev over Marin Cilic 7-6 (9/7), 6-2, giving the final point to his country to succeed Spain in the record of this tournament.
Before, in the first individual match, Andrey Rublev, number 5 in the world, had overtaken Russia by beating Croatian Borna Gojo 6-4, 7-5 (7/5) at the Madrid Arena in Madrid.
Medvedev’s victory avoided having to go to the double, in which the Croats were hopeful by having the pair Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, number one in the specialty world.
“We had to win the singles because the double would have been very difficult,” Rublev acknowledged after the game.
Russia, which was playing its sixth Davis Cup final, rose like this for the third time with the Silver Salad Bowl, after its successes in 2002 against France and 2006 against Argentina.
“It is very important to win here”
“I can say that for all of us it is very important to win here. It is still the Davis Cup,” Medvedev said after the match, referring to his victory in this second edition of the tournament in its new format.
“We have seen Novak (Djokovic) playing. Rafa (Nadal) won the last time. No matter the format, the best players in the world are happy to represent their country. It is the Davis Cup and we are the winners. That’s the best. important, “Medvedev added.
The Russian team, with four players among the 30 best in the world, confirmed the favorite band with which they attended this final phase of the Davis Cup.
After Rublev’s initial triumph, Medvedev finished the job against a tough Cilic, especially in the first set.
The two opponents clinging to their serve took the first set to sudden death.
Cilic hold on
With 6-7 in favor in the tie-break and serving to close, a double fault from Medvedev again gave air to Cilic that equalized 7-7, although the Russian would react again to take the set.
In the second set, Medvedev accelerated and broke his rival’s serve in the fourth game to go 3-1 and confirm the advantage with his serve.
A new break in the last game allowed the Russian to close the match and give his team victory.
The Russians had reached this final after defeating Spain in the group stage, which was defending the trophy and could not pass the first stage, before winning in the quarterfinals to Sweden (2-0) now Germany in the semifinals (2-1).
Croatia, which was also aiming for its third Salad Bowl, after its victories in 2005 against Slovakia and 2018 against France, in the last edition of the Davis Cup in its traditional format, could not complete its great journey.
After surprising Italy in the quarterfinals (2-1), the Croats had eliminated Serbia and their leader, world number one, Novak Djokovic (2-1), but Medvedev and Rublev were erected in one last impassable wall .
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx