Croatia Knock USA Out of Davis Cup to Reach Semi-Final

Borna Ćorić gave Croatia victory in the decider (photo: Davis Cup)

Croatia completed an incredible comeback on Sunday in Portland to beat United States 3-2 in the Davis Cup quarter-final…

Croatia continued its unbeaten record against the United States in Davis Cup tennis to set up a semi-final matchup against France.

Trailing 0-2 and facing the world’s best ever doubles pairing, Croatia managed to keep the tie alive on Saturday when Marin Čilić and Ivan Dodig caused a huge upset and beat the Bryan brothers 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Earlier on Friday United States raced out to a 2-0 lead when Jack Sock beat Čilić in a 5-set thriller and John Isner comfortably beat Borna Ćorić.

Marin Čilić and Ivan Dodig caused a upset against the Bryan brothers (photo: Davis Cup)

With the score at 2-1 Croatia could sniff a chance on Sunday and when Čilić beat Isner in straight sets to level the tie at 2-2 the Croatians could sense victory.

The deciding rubber was played between Ćorić and Sock, and it was Ćorić who looked the most hungry from the outset. The 19-year-old, spurred on by a small contingent of Croatian fans who had turned up in Portland, took the first, third and fourth set to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and complete a great comeback to send Croatia through to the semi-final.

Marin Čilić and coach Željko Krajan (photo: Davis Cup)

Croatia will meet France on September 16-18 for a place in the final. In the other semi-final Argentina will meet Great Britain. Croatia already has a Davis Cup title under its belt when they won in 2005.