Tennis: Djokovic leads calls for ATP Cup, Davis Cup to merge

BRISBANE, Australia -- Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic said Thursday there was no point in having two men's team tennis competitions and suggested the new ATP Cup should merge with the Davis Cup.

The ATP Cup is about to kick off its inaugural edition, replacing a number of previous Australian Open warm-up tournaments with the new round-robin competition.

It comes six weeks after the revamped Davis Cup, which also has countries playing each other in a round-robin format, was held in Madrid.

Canadian Denis Shapovalov suggested earlier Thursday that the two events -- one run by the men's tour, the Association of Tennis Professionals, and the other by the International Tennis Federation -- should combine.

"It's a really similar event and it's literally back-to-back from the other one, so it's a little bit of a weird sensation coming from what felt like the world championships coming to play another world championship," Shapovalov said.

"So for me I don't see why they, the ATP and ITF can't combine, can't join, can't come to some agreement and make just one, really unique and special tournament for everyone."

When asked about the Canadian's comments, Djokovic, who is on the ATP players' council, agreed.

"We need to have one Super World Cup event, whatever you want to call it," he said.

"That's not going to happen next year as well. But if the two sides, the ITF, the Davis Cup, and the ATP get together very quickly, it can happen possibly for 2022. 

"I hope it will happen because it's kind of hard to get top players to commit to play both events, the Davis Cup and the ATP Cup. 

"And it's six weeks apart, so they're not really helping each other in terms of marketing, in terms of the value of the event."

Djokovic's concerns were shared by France's Nicolas Mahut, who said having two men's team competitions was "too much".

"Obviously, we don't need two competitions the same way. Two team competitions is too much," he said.

Djokovic does not normally play in Australian before the year's first Grand Slam in Melbourne, but he will use the ATP Cup to prepare for his attempt to win an eighth Australian Open crown.

"The Australian Open courts, Melbourne Park was always very suitable to my game, and I can't wait to go back there," he said.

"Obviously, that's probably my most successful court in my career, in my life, so I love playing there."

Djokovic's first match in the ATP Cup will be against South Africa's Kevin Anderson on Saturday.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Nadal-inspired Spain to face Canada in Davis Cup final

MADRID, Spain -- Rafael Nadal inspired Spain into their first Davis Cup final since 2012 as he teamed up with Feliciano Lopez to secure a dramatic last-four victory over Britain in Madrid.

The hosts trailed 1-0 after Lopez's singles defeat by Kyle Edmund on Saturday, but Nadal thrashed Dan Evans before partnering Lopez in a 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (10/8) win in the deciding doubles over Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski.

Spain will face Canada in Sunday's final after the North Americans won their semi-final against Russia, which was also decided in the doubles rubber.

"It was a very special moment for us, a very unique opportunity," said the 38-year-old Lopez. "We have a great opportunity to win this tournament here at home."

Denis Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil sent Canada into their maiden Davis Cup showpiece by edging out Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev.

Five-time champions Spain were indebted to world number one Nadal for a virtuoso display as the 33-year-old continues his hunt for a fifth Davis Cup crown, having first lifted the title himself in 2004.

"This competition is always dramatic, especially with the new format," said Nadal.

"It's really, really special. Thank you to Feli (Lopez) and to the crowd who were amazing as well."

Spain lost their last Davis Cup final to the Czech Republic six years ago.

Edmund had earlier justified the decision of British captain Leon Smith to select him ahead of three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray by seeing off Lopez 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

But Nadal swatted aside Evans 6-4, 6-0 to set up the doubles showdown.

Murray and Skupski more than held their own in the face of a partisan home crowd and a pumped-up Nadal at the Caja Magica, but saw a break point come and go in the 11th game of the first set before losing a tie-break.

The Britons saw four set points pass them by in the second set, including three in the breaker, with Nadal saving one by producing an incredible lob on the stretch.

A place in the final was sealed on a second match point.

"Rafa (Nadal) plays like this from the first round in every tournament. It's one of his powers," said Spain captain Sergi Bruguera.

- Canada make history -

Earlier on Saturday, the 20-year-old Shapovalov had drawn Canada level by beating Khachanov after Rublev's win over Pospisil in the opening match.

The Canadian pair then edged out Khachanov and Rublev in a thrilling deciding-set tie-break.

"I thought both teams played phenomenal," Canada captain Frank Dancevic said.

"The Russians threw everything they had at us, it was just a matter of who came up with the better shots. There was no room for error today -– they went for their shots, went big in the big moments, and here we are into the final."

It was their third Davis Cup semi-final, after previous last-four defeats in 1913 and 2013.

"We've got a huge day, a historic day for us tomorrow, and we're going to leave it all out there," said world number 150 Pospisil.

Canada secured a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) victory on their second match point to finish a tie which lasted six and a half hours.

Earlier, Shapovalov had seen off Khachanov, Russia's leading player in the absence of world number four Daniil Medvedev due to exhaustion, in a dramatic match.

The left-handed rising star, who reached his maiden Masters final in Paris earlier this month, saved three successive break points while serving for the match.

The in-form Rublev had made it four singles wins from as many matches this week by brushing aside Pospisil 6-4, 6-4.

Canada have reached the final despite being without the injured Felix Auger-Aliassime, the world number 22, with Pospisil stepping up instead.

"I'm at a loss for words," Shapovalov said. "It's incredible how far we've come this week, with me and Vasek playing on a different level.

"It's unbelievable to see. And to clinch it like this, in the doubles, I wouldn't have it any other way."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Focused ‘Djoker’

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic serves against Russia’s Karen Khachanov during the Davis Cup quarterfinal in Madrid on Friday. The 16-time Grand Slam winner cruised past his opponent 6-3, 6-3.

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Croats dance as Davis Cup victors come home

ZAGREB - Thousands of Croats danced and cheered in Zagreb's central square on Monday as they welcomed their national tennis team back home and celebrated its Davis Cup victory.

Top-ranked Marin Cilic and other players boarded a special bus straight from the airport, drove into the heart of the capital and climbed onto a stage in Ban Jelacic Square to greet their fans.

As footage of their best moments played out on a video wall behind them, the players sang and danced along with the flag-waving crowd.

"We're extremely happy to bring this trophy to Croatia and to show everyone that we are the best," Cilic said from the stage as he held up the prize.

Croatia's 3-1 defeat of France over the weekend was the second time it has won the trophy, after beating Slovakia in 2005.

It was also Croatia's second major sporting clash with France this year - the first was Croatia's 4-2 defeat in the World Cup soccer final in Moscow in July.

"We are proud of our guys. They struck back after the defeat of our soccer team," one of the revellers in Zagreb said.

(Reporting by Igor Ilic Editing by Andrew Heavens)

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France stay alive in Davis Cup final after doubles win

LILLE, France -- The Davis Cup is entering a brave new world -- but it is not leaving the old one quietly.

Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert made sure of that with a gripping doubles win that keeps France's hopes against Croatia alive in the last final to be staged in the event's traditional format.

On a rainy afternoon in northern France, more than 20,000 fans packed into Lille's soccer stadium to roar Mahut and Herbert to a 6-4 6-4 3-6 7-6(3) win over Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic.

It meant the last head-to-head Davis Cup final before a soccer World Cup-style format kicks off in 2019 will stretch to three days, with Croatia still in the driving seat at 2-1 ahead.

Fifty huge heaters dangle above the claycourt constructed under the retractable roof of the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

Organisers could have saved the electric bill and tapped into the energy produced by a passionate crowd, most wearing blue, who never shut up from the first point to last.

The home win kept alive the possibility, however remote, that Yannick Noah's champions can storm back to become the first team since Australia against the U.S. in 1939 to win a final from 0-2 down.

It is a long shot with with Marin Cilic and Borna Coric, ranked seven and 12 in the world respectively, expected to claim the one point Croatia need to win the title for a second time.

Cilic will play first on Sunday, probably against Lucas Pouille, who was left out by Noah on Friday.

Should Cilic lose, it would come down to a deciding fifth rubber between Coric and, most likely, Herbert, as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is unlikely to play after picking up an injury during his defeat by Cilic on day one.

Whatever happens, French Open champions Mahut and Herbert did their bit, resisting a fierce Croatian fightback to prevail.

"We tried to keep the team alive today," Mahut, who now boats a 9-2 record in Davis Cup doubles, said.

"We want to win the Davis Cup and I think our players can do it tomorrow."

Noah, who cried during the anthems before play, hopes to sign off his third stint as captain by delivering France's 11th Davis Cup, but admits his team still have a mountain to climb.

"We have to try to visualise a positive outcome to win the whole thing," he said. "You saw today what can happen when the fans got involved. That can be positive for us and negative for the other side.

"Whatever the outcome it's an historic weekend for Davis Cup lovers. At times, I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere. We may not ever have this again. Except for tomorrow!"

It looked like being a comfortable win for the French duo when they had points for a double break in the third set, having dominated the first two.

But Pavic and Dodig, who with Cilic beat Mahut and Herbert in the 2016 semi-final, France's last defeat, clawed their way back to set home nerves jangling.

From 3-1 down, Croatia broke twice to reel off five straight games and take the third set.

At the start of the fourth, France saved three break points on the Herbert serve and he was sweating again at 2-2 as the momentum swung Croatia's way.

French fans, who at various points broke into Icelandic thunderclaps and renditions of La Marseillaise, ratcheted up the decibel levels as Pavic served at 4-5.

When the 25-year-old double-faulted at 0-30 to give France three match points, bedlam broke out in the stands with opposing fans trying to out-chant each other.

Umpire James Keothavong was struggling to keep order but somehow Pavic kept his head as he and Dodig dug themelves out of a seemingly impossible position to make it 5-5.

Boos rang out as Pavic gestured defiantly at the massed ranks of blue.

They turnd to cheers though as Mahut and Herbert jumped into a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak and though the Croatians got it back to 4-3, the French pair then kept their cool with Mahut's reflex volley sealing the win.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Ian Chadband)

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Cool Coric steers Croatia into Davis Cup final with France

ZADAR, Croatia - Borna Coric kept his cool to prevail in a thrilling winner-takes-all duel with fellow young gun Frances Tiafoe on Sunday and steer Croatia into the final of the Davis Cup for the second time in three years with a monumental 3-2 victory over the U.S.

The 21-year-old Coric came from two sets to one down to defeat the 20-year-old debutant Tiafoe 6-7(0) 6-1 6-7(11) 6-1 6-3 and finally subdue a remarkable fightback from the Americans, who had earlier levelled the tie 2-2 from two down.

Late understudy Sam Querrey had rewarded captain Jim Courier's gamble by taking the tie into a decider in the fourth rubber, battling back from the brink of two sets down to beat home talisman Marin Cilic 6-7(2) 7-6(6) 6-3 6-4.

Yet with everything resting on the first duel between two of tennis's brightest young 'Next Gen' men, Coric overcame the loss of two very contrasting tiebreaks to book Croatia's final date against champions France.

"That was unbelievable. This is the most special moment of my whole life," said a thrilled Coric on court afterwards.

The French, who defeated Spain 3-2 in the other semi-final in Lille, will have home advantage in the November showdown and hope to avenge their 3-2 loss to the Croatians in the 2016 semi-final.

The self-styled men's 'World Cup of Tennis' will also see a repeat of the football World Cup final in Russia with the French, 10-times Davis Cup champions, again favourites to beat the Croatians, whose only victory came in 2005.

Yet for a moment, after Coric had capitulated 7-0 in the first set breaker and 13-11 in the third set decider, the shocked fans in the Dalmatian resort feared Croatia could be on the wrong end of one of the competition's unlikeliest comebacks.

Coric, though, demonstrated why he is seen as one of the sport's best prospects, holding his nerve against the equally brilliant young American and proving too solid over the final two sets as he finally prevailed after four hours six minutes.

At 2-0 down after Friday's singles, there had not seemed the remotest chance of a U.S. team without their top two players John Isner and Jack Sock recovering to reach a first final in 11 years.

Only when 40-year-old Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison fought courageously to claw out a five-set doubles win on Saturday, were the Americans given even faint hope of contesting the last final to be staged under the traditional Davis Cup format.

BOLD RISK

But Courier was rewarded for a bold, if slightly desperate-looking risk when he rested his No.1 Steve Johnson and instead threw Querrey into the must-win fourth rubber even though the 30-year-old had never previously beaten Cilic in six attempts.

Cilic had also become the most successful Croatian Davis Cup player in history on Friday when winning his 37th rubber against Tiafoe but the world number six was found wanting when, after winning the opening set on a tiebreak, he stood on the verge of a commanding lead.

He took a 6-1 lead in the second set tiebreak in superb fashion only to crumble under Querrey's onslaught with the American world number 61 winning seven straight points.

"I just hung in there. After being 6-1 down in the tiebreak, I just played aggressively and from then on the pressure just builds," said Querrey.

Cilic's early dominance on the outdoor clay, cheered by an enthusiastic crowd in the Dalmatian resort, then evaporated as Querrey took the next two sets to win in three hours and eight minutes.

In Lille there was relief that the Croatians had won as it guaranteed the final would be a home tie for France.

Yannick Noah, who will be seeking a fourth win as French captain, will be wary of the Croatian firepower. He was captain two years ago when Cilic contributed all three points to the home side's semi-final win in Zadar.

"That was kind of a bitter feeling for me because I felt we were really close and we went and lost it," recalled Noah. "Now, with the chance of back-to-back wins, this is going to be an opportunity for us to go into the history books."

(Editing by Toby Davis and Christian Radnedge)

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USA, Kazakhs into last eight at star-stripped Davis Cup

PARIS, France -- Switzerland and Serbia, missing the accumulated Grand Slam power of Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic, slumped to defeat in the Davis Cup first round on Saturday, allowing Kazakhstan and the United States to reach the quarter-finals.

The Swiss have now fallen in the first round every year since their maiden title triumph in 2014, which was inspired by 20-time major winner Federer and three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka.

But with recently-crowned Australian Open champion Federer and injury-hit Wawrinka not making the trip to Astana, the Kazakhs made the most of their opportunity.

Timur Khabibulin and Aleksandr Nedovyesov sealed the key point by seeing off Marc-Andrea Huesler and Luca Margaroli 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 in the doubles for a 3-0 lead.

Serbia, the 2010 champions but without Djokovic, were also defeated as Ryan Harrison and Steve Johnson downed Nikola Milojevic and Miljan Zekic 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 for a 3-0 advantage on the clay courts in Nis.

Djokovic, the 12-time major winner and former world number one, was absent after undergoing surgery to cure a long-standing right elbow injury.

The United States, who have been champions 32 times, were 2-0 up overnight after singles wins for Sam Querrey and John Isner.

Harrison, with a world ranking of 19 in doubles, teamed with Johnson against the rookie pair of unranked Zekic and the world 307 Milojevic and set up a quarter-final against Belgium or Hungary.

Belgium, the runners-up in 2017, are 2-1 ahead of Hungary in Liege.

The win was sweet revenge for the United States who had lost to Serbia in the 2010 and 2013 competition.

"We feel good about our team and our depth. We're excited," said Harrison.

- Sunday special - 

The remaining six first-round ties will be decided on Sunday.

Defending champions France are 2-1 up on the Netherlands in Albertville after Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert defeated Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/2).

"It was by far their best match in the Davis Cup," said France skipper Yannick Noah.

The winners will face either Japan or Italy for a place in the semi-finals.

Italy have the edge over Japan in their tie in Morioka after veterans Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini beat New Zealand-born Ben McLachlan and Yasutaka Uchiyama 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/3) 7-5.

Japan, without talisman Kei Nishikori, are looking to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time while Italy were champions back in 1976.

Five-time champions Spain, without world number one Rafael Nadal, are 2-1 up on Great Britain on clay in Marbella after Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez defeated Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).

Britain are missing Andy Murray, who is recovering from hip surgery.

The winners of that tie will face either Australia, the 28-time champions, or Germany who are 2-1 ahead in their tie in Brisbane.

Tim Puetz and Jan-Lennard Struff beat John Peers and Matthew Ebden 6-4, 6-7 (1/7), 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 in the doubles on Saturday.

Alexander Zverev, the world number five, can secure the winning point on Sunday if he beats the enigmatic Nick Kyrgios in the first of the reverse singles.

In Osijek, meanwhile, world number three in singles and Australian Open runner-up Marin Cilic teamed with Ivan Dodig in a thrilling comeback to see off Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 as Croatia lead Canada 2-1.

"It was incredibly tough," said a relieved Cilic.

The winners of that tie will face Kazakhstan in the last eight.

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Pouille wraps up 10th Davis Cup title for France

LILLE, France - France won their 10th Davis Cup title when Lucas Pouille crushed Steve Darcis 6-3 6-1 6-0 to give the hosts a 3-2 victory in the final against neighbors Belgium on Sunday.

Pouille was never threatened in the decisive rubber after David Goffin had given Belgium both their points with impressive displays in the singles.

Les Bleus, however, had more strength in depth, winning a singles match through Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday and Saturday's doubles with Richard Gasquet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

It was their first title since they beat Australia away in 2001 before three defeats in the final - in 2002, 2010 and 2014 - while Belgium have yet to win the title, having now lost three finals after defeats in 1904 and 2015.

Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win a grand slam title, celebrated his third Davis Cup success as captain after leading France to victory in 1991 and 1996.

"It was a victory we had been dreaming off," said Noah. "It's a united group. It was a tough weekend against a good Belgian team. Lucas played a fantastic final match."

Belgium captain Johan Van Herck added: "I would not change anything. We have regrets about losing, it's normal that we are disappointed after a tough weekend. In sports it's never nice to be second".

STRAIGHT SETS

Goffin gave the visitors a 1-0 lead by beating Pouille in the opening singles before Tsonga levelled by defeating Darcis on Friday, the number ones both prevailing in straight sets.

France took the lead thanks to the pairing of Gasquet and Herbert, who had never played a competitive match together but beat Ruben Bemelmans and Joris De Loore in four sets.

Goffin was again a notch above the rest on Sunday, levelling the tie at 2-2 against Tsonga with a 7-6(5) 6-3 6-2 win as the world number seven sent the tie into a decider.

The final match was anti-climactic as Pouille went for the throat, racing to a 3-0 lead against Darcis, who never seemed to stand a chance on the indoor hardcourt even if he had won all of his five matches in the competition before.

World number 18 Pouille, who was born 75 km from Lille, held serve to take the first set and never looked back, claiming 12 games in a row and closing it out on the first match point when a sorry Darcis sent a shot long.

"There's nothing more beautiful than winning as a team in front of my friends and family. Now we're going to celebrate and enjoy it," said Pouille.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Clare Fallon and Ken Ferris)

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Djokovic survives Davis Cup scare, champions Argentina slump

PARIS, France – Novak Djokovic survived an injury scare and battled back from a set and a break down to help Serbia take a 2-0 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup World Group tie on Friday.

Twelve-time major winner Djokovic, just one of two of the world's top 15 playing in the first round this weekend, dropped the first set and was 0-3 down in the second against promising 20-year-old Daniil Medvedev in Nis.

Djokovic, looking to rebuild his confidence after a shock second round exit at the Australian Open, needed first-set treatment on his right shoulder before recovering for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 lead.

Medvedev dropped the opening game of the fourth set and then retired with cramps.

Earlier, world number 37 Viktor Troicki had given 2010 champions Serbia a winning start, downing 52nd-ranked Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8/6) in a 4hr 30min marathon.

"The pain I had prevented me from playing the points as I wanted to," said Djokovic. "But it's a good victory and we are in a very good position."

The winners of the tie will face either five-time champions Spain or Croatia in the quarter-finals.

Despite missing former US Open champion Marin Cilic, the Croats took the lead in Osijek when world number 223 Franko Skugor stunned 26th-ranked Pablo Carreno Busta 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8/6).

Roberto Bautista Agut steadied the ship for Spain with the world 16 breezing past Ante Pavic -- ranked at 486 -- 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

Spain are without 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal who skipped the tie after reaching the Australian Open final.

Argentina endured a traumatic start to their title defence when they slumped 2-0 down to Italy despite the fervent support of Diego Maradona.

Playing without Juan Martin del Potro and Federico Delbonis, the stars of their 2016 final victory over Croatia, the South Americans were outclassed at the Parque Sarmiento in Buenos Aires.

A crowd of 2,000, including football icon Maradona, failed to inspire Guido Pella who lost to veteran Paolo Lorenzi, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

- Federer, Nadal, Murray absent -
Andreas Seppi, a late call-up for the ill Fabio Fognini, then made it 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (8/6) win over Carlos Berlocq who was celebrating his 34th birthday.

"It was a tough match beyond the result as the first two sets lasted almost two hours," said Lorenzi after securing just his second ever singles win in the Davis Cup.

The winners of the tie will face either Germany or Belgium, who are 1-1 in Frankfurt, in the quarter-finals.

World number 22 Alexander Zverev crushed Arthur de Greef, the world 143, to pull Germany level after Steve Darcis downed Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 (7/5).

Nick Kyrgios conceded just seven games in powering Australia to a 2-0 lead over the Czech Republic, who are without Tomas Berdych, in Melbourne.

The controversial world number 15 took just 95 minutes to reel off a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over the 157th-ranked Jan Satral. Rookie Jordan Thompson upset Jiri Vesely 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

Should 28-time champions Australia seal victory in Saturday's doubles, they could face the United States, winners on a record 32 occasions, if they defeat Switzerland in Birmingham.

The US are favourites after Australian Open champion Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka opted not to play leaving Henri Laaksonen and 35-year-old Marco Chiudinelli to represent the Swiss.

Jack Sock gave the Americans a flying start with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 win over Chiudinelli.

In Ottawa, Dan Evans, downed 17-year-old Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 as Britain took a 1-0 lead over Canada.

The 26-year-old, his country's top player after world number one Andy Murray opted out, easily dispatched 234th-ranked Israeli-born left-hander Shapovalov, drafted into the Canadian squad after world number four Milos Raonic pulled out injured.

The winners of the tie are likely to next face nine-time champions France who took a 2-0 stranglehold against Japan who are without world number five Kei Nishikori.

Richard Gasquet swept past Taro Daniel 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 before Gilles Simon overpowered Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

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Delbonis seals Argentina's maiden Davis Cup title

ZAGREB, Croatia -- Federico Delbonis swept aside Croatia's Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in Sunday's deciding rubber as Argentina clinched a first Davis Cup title with a stunning fightback in Zagreb.

Juan Martin del Potro, cheered on by Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, staged an incredible comeback from two sets down to beat Marin Cilic in the opening reverse singles to level the tie at 2-2.

Left-hander Delbonis then tamed the big-serving Karlovic as Argentina, runners-up on four previous occasions, became just the 15th country to lift the trophy in 116 years.


"This is one of those dreams that has come true," said Delbonis.

"I tried to keep focused to do what I had to do, that's all I could think because if I thought about anything else it would be a disaster."

Argentina coach Daniel Orsanic added: "The guys were amazing today. Juan Martin won an incredible match and Federico played the match of his life."

Delbonis was beaten by Cilic in five sets in Friday's first singles match but blew away the 37-year-old Karlovic, an opponent ranked 21 places above him, in just over two hours.

The world number 41 broke Karlovic -- the oldest player to feature in a Davis Cup singles match since 43-year-old Australian Norman Brookes in 1920 -- four times to help Argentina banish the memories of losing finals appearances in 1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

But much of the credit will go to Del Potro after the Olympic silver medallist, who missed the majority of 2014 and 2015 through injury, outlasted Cilic in an epic five-hour battle of former US Open champions.

"I was positive all the time and did not let my head drop after going two sets down," said Del Potro.

"This was an emotionally exhausting match and one of the biggest wins of my career."

- Unprecedented recovery -

Del Potro had defeated Cilic in eight of 10 previous meetings, but Sunday's clash was the first since 2013 and the Croat was invigorated by an animated Zagreb Arena crowd.

Sixth-ranked Cilic dominated a first set tie-break, winning the first five points to seize control, and then broke Del Potro's serve twice in succession in the second set to move Croatia within sight of a second title.

But Del Potro, who rallied from behind to overcome Andy Murray in a five-set epic in the semi-final, displayed more remarkable resilience and produced an outrageous 'tweener' to begin the third set.

Cilic fought off two early break points but then succumbed to nerves as the finish line approached, falling 0-40 behind on serve at 5-6, and Del Potro pounced at the third opportunity to reignite his country's hopes.

Del Potro's blistering forehand piled the pressure on Cilic, and the Argentine sent the match to a fifth set by converting his third set point after his opponent again faltered on serve at 5-4.

Del Potro committed a costly double fault to gift Cilic the advantage at the start of the deciding set, but the world number 38 hit straight back in the following game to level.

The Argentine then conjured up a pair of break points at 4-3 with a miscued forehand from Cilic paving the way for Del Potro to complete a stunning fightback -- his first ever from two sets down -- in four hours and 53 minutes.

"It’s a very hard defeat to take," said Cilic.

"I am very disappointed but I have no regrets because I gave all I had and it was just one of those days when it didn’t come off."

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Del Potro sinks Murray as Argentina take 2-0 lead

GLASGOW - Juan Martin del Potro delivered a huge blow to Britain's hopes of retaining the Davis Cup when he beat Andy Murray 6-4 5-7 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 in a five-hour thriller as Argentina grabbed a 2-0 lead in their world group semi-final on Friday.

World number two and Wimbledon champion Murray looked poised to chalk up his 30th victory in 32 Davis Cup matches when he led by two sets to one against the man he beat in last month's Rio Olympics singles final.

But Del Potro, ranked 64th in the world after being plagued by numerous injuries, refused to surrender and condemned Murray to only his third singles defeat in the men's team competition after finishing off the marathon encounter with an ace.

"I won but I still remember Olympic final. This is very important to me and my team and we are looking to reach another final in the Davis Cup," Del Potro said courtside.

"Against Andy you never know when the match will finish. He is a dangerous player, a fighter and great champion. In end I played good forehands and good serves and that was key.

"I am so happy to be playing tennis again after three surgeries. This kind of moment was what I was missing..."

Britain's day went from bad to worse in Glasgow as Guido Pella then beat Kyle Edmund 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 6-2 in the second singles. Friday's defeats mean the hosts have to win the three remaining rubbers if they are to reach the final for the second year running.

The big serving Del Potro capitalised on Murray's mistakes to take the first set, which included one rally of 41 strokes.

Towards the end of the second, both players, while appreciating the backing of their respective supporters in a noisy crowd, were upset by excitable calls of "out" from spectators.

That happened on the final point of the set to Del Potro's fury, the umpire declining to replay it.

He recovered his composure in the third set, taking two of the three successive breaks of serve while running up a 5-3 lead.

But Murray saved a set point with a superb lob and drew level at 5-5 before taking it on the tiebreak.

Del Potro, who won the U.S. Open in 2009, then showed what he was capable of producing as he pummelled winners from the baseline to bag the next two sets and leave Argentina two wins away from reaching their first final since 2011.

The winner will face either France or Croatia, who are locked at 1-1 in the other last-four tie, in the final. (Reporting by Pritha Sarkar and Steve Tongue, editing by Mark Trevelyan and Larry Fine)

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Britain, Argentina, France edge closer to Davis Cup semi-finals

PARIS, France -- Defending champions Great Britain, Argentina and France gatecrashed their hosts' Davis Cup parties to edge closer to the semi-finals on Saturday.

Britain, playing without Wimbledon champion and world number two Andy Murray, took a 2-1 lead over 2010 winners Serbia in Belgrade.

In the second singles rubber, rescheduled from Friday due to heavy rain, Dusan Lajovic defeated James Ward 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to pull the hosts, who are missing world number one Novak Djokovic, level.

But Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot then beat Filip Krajinovic and Nenad Zimonjic 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles to move Britain to within one win of the last four.

Krajinovic had replaced Janko Tipsarevic, who was easily defeated by Kyle Edmund 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in the first singles rubber on Friday.

Ward can win the tie in the first reverse singles on Sunday against Tipsarevic, but if the Serb veteran wins then it will come down to a deciding match between 67th-ranked Edmund and Lajovic, the two teams' highest-ranked players.

"Constant pressure is what makes the Davis Cup a great competition and I dealt with it pretty well," said Lajovic, the world number 81.

"If I reproduce this kind of performance against Edmund, I think I have a good chance of winning."

The winners will face either Argentina or Italy in the semi-finals. Argentina are currently 2-1 in front in their last-eight tie in Pesaro.

Fabio Fognini had pulled Italy level by beating Juan Monaco 6-1, 6-1, 7-5 in a singles held over from Friday because of rain.

"I played my worst two sets of the year," admitted Monaco, back in the team after a two and a half year absence.

But Juan Martin Del Potro marked his first Davis Cup tie in four years by teaming with Guido Pella to beat Fognini and Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 3-6, 6-4.

France were also enjoying their hosts' hospitality by taking a 2-1 lead over 2012 and 2013 champions the Czech Republic in steel town Trinec.

Wimbledon champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, ranked first and second in the world, beat Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in just over three hours.

"We have been getting ready for this rubber for a week," said Mahut.

"We left nothing to chance, we have been together all the time. We know each other by heart and that helps us."

The winners of that tie will face either the 32-time champions United States or Croatia for a place in the final.



- Croatia claw one back -

In Portland, Oregon, Croatia fended off elimination as Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig teamed up to beat the formidable US doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

The home side were 2-0 up after Friday's singles.

Jack Sock stormed back from two sets down to defeat former US Open champion Cilic 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 before world number 12 John Isner cruised to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Borna Coric.

The Bryans, owners of 16 Grand Slam doubles titles, were a good bet to finish off the tie, but with Cilic stepping in to partner Dodig in place of Marin Draganja the brothers couldn't get the job done.

With Croatia still one match away from elimination at 2-1, Cilic will try to level the score when he takes on Isner in the first reverse singles on Sunday.

Cilic has won five prior encounters against Isner and was aiming to take advantage of the window he and Dodig had opened.

"Whatever happened the last two days it's behind us," Cilic said. "It's going to be definitely a tough match against John, especially on this kind of court. I'm hoping I am going to be 100 percent and I can pull out a great match."

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Murray may skip World Tour Finals for Davis Cup

GLASGOW, United Kingdom --Andy Murray has revealed that he may decide to skip this year's World Tour Finals in order to prepare for Great Britain's Davis Cup final against Belgium in November.

Murray inspired Britain to victory over Australia in the Davis Cup semi-finals, securing their first appearance in a final since 1978 with a straight-sets defeat of Bernard Tomic in Glasgow on Sunday.

Belgium are expected to stage the final on clay and with the hard-court World Tour Finals not due to finish until the week before, Murray is thinking about sitting out the prestigious event at London's O2 Arena.

"The O2 would obviously be a question mark for me if we were playing on the clay," Murray, a two-time World Tour Finals semi-finalist, told BBC Radio 5.

"I would go and train and prepare on the clay to get ready for the (Davis Cup) final. You saw last year with Roger Federer that the matches at the O2 are extremely tough and physically demanding.

"If you reach the final and play on the Sunday, you also need to take time off. You can't just play five matches against the best players in the world and then not take any days off."

Missing the World Tour Finals would oblige Murray to forego prize money ranging from £300,000 ($465,800, 414,00 euros) to £1.25 million, as well as 1,500 ATP ranking points.

His 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Tomic gave Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead, with Thanasi Kokkinakis' win against Dan Evans in Sunday's final singles rubber making the final score 3-2.

Belgium, who defeated Argentina 3-2 in the other semi-final, will host the final on November 27-29.

Murray, 28, won both singles matches as well as the doubles with elder brother Jamie, and revealed afterwards that a back injury sustained in training had dogged him throughout the tie.

"My back had been giving me a lot of trouble this weekend and for a few days before the tie as well," the world number three said.

"The previous issues I've had with my back have been completely different. My back was fine during the US Open and all through that stretch.

"I took five days off and started practising again. On Tuesday night, once I had finished practising and had cooled down, my back was extremely sore and it got progressively worse over the next couple of days."

- First title since 1936 -

 Victory puts nine-time winners Britain, on the verge of relegation to Zone Group III five years ago, a step closer to an historic first title triumph since 1936.

Murray is now looking to become only the fourth player ever to win the Davis Cup, Olympic gold and multiple Grand Slams.

"We have an opportunity to win the event in the next match, but there's so much tennis still to go," said the former US Open and Wimbledon champion.

"We still need to win three matches and there's two or three months until the next tie, and a lot can happen between now and then.

"It would be an incredible achievement to win it, but there's a long way to go."

It was a final Davis Cup campaign for 34-year-old Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt, who is set to retire following the Australian Open in January 2016.

"It is a great honour. I have never shied away from it," Hewitt, tipped as the next Australian Davis Cup captain, said of representing his country.

"Tennis is a very selfish sport and I have always loved getting together as a group and playing for your country.

"We did everything we could have done in this tie. We laid it on the line again so I've no regrets, but at the same time I'm disappointed as we were so close to having the opportunity to play in another Davis Cup final.

"I've been lucky and had the opportunity to celebrate at the end of a winning campaign like 2003 and my first year in 1999, but I've definitely had my fair share of gut-wrenching losses as well.

"These boys are going to get a lot more opportunities and they will be better players because of what happened this weekend."

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Nadal wins on return to national duty for Spain

BARCELONA - Rafa Nadal returned to Davis Cup action for the first time in two years on Friday with his victory putting Spain ahead in a Group One relegation playoff against Denmark.

The 14-times grand slam champion, short of form and beaten in the third round of the U.S. Open by Fabio Fognini, overcame world number 909 Mikael Torpegaard 6-4 6-3 6-2.

The 29-year-old's last appearance was against Ukraine in 2013, since when the five-times champions have tumbled out of the World Group, and he was joined by David Ferrer as Spain established a 2-0 lead on day one.

Nadal did not have things all his own way against Torpegaard, who had three break points to take a 5-4 lead in the opening set before Nadal regained control.

In the World Group playoffs, Switzerland's big guns Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka helped their country into a 2-0 lead against the Netherlands, although Wawrinka was given a huge scare before beating Thiemo de Bakker in five sets.

Nadal's U.S. Open conqueror Fognini beat Russian teenager Andrey Rublev to leave Italy tied at 1-1 after the first day of their World Group playoff in Irkutsk.

The United States, 32-times champions, were locked at 1-1 with Uzbekistan after Steve Johnson lost a five-setter to Denis Istomin before Jack Sock levelled things up with victory over Farrukh Dustov in Tashkent. (Reporting by Tim Hanlon, additional reporting by Martyn Herman)

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Pressure all on Murray says Hewitt

GLASGOW -- Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt says the pressure is all on Andy Murray as he attempts to lead his Great Britain side to Davis Cup glory.

Murray suffered the disappointment of being knocked out in the fourth round of the US Open by Kevin Anderson in New York last week - his earliest exit from a Grand Slam tournament in five years.

The 28-year-old is now concentrating on leading Team GB into the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1978 as they prepare to face Australia in their semi-final clash at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

The best-of-five tie opens with two singles rubbers on Friday, followed by the doubles rubber on Saturday and the reverse singles on Sunday.

Murray played three tough matches in three days in GB’s win over France in the quarter-finals in July - including a doubles win with older brother Jamie - and Hewitt says the weight of expectation will be on the Scot again this time round.

"A lot of the pressure is obviously on Andy," said Hewitt, who won the competition with Australia in 1999 and 2003.

"Whoever gets the opportunity to face him on day one really has nothing to lose, you can go out free swinging and play your game."

The 34-year-old, who is set to retire after the Australian Open at the start of 2016, added: "I think Andy pretty much has got to win that match in a lot of ways so it's going to be a bigger rubber for them, I think, and these young boys are big match players as well.

"We're going to try and come up with the best team play to win three out of the five matches."

However, two-time major winner Murray was adamant that Great Britain's Davis Cup squad was not a one-man team.

- Pressure on everybody -

“I wouldn’t say it’s all on me. We got into this position by everyone in the team playing their part," Murray said.

“I think there’s pressure on everybody. It’s Lleyton’s last chance to win the Davis Cup and he’ll be feeling pressure as well and all the players in their team will be feeling the same way.

“The pressure is on us as well because everyone views this as a good opportunity, so we can point fingers at one another and say there is pressure for certain individuals and none on the others but they’ll be feeling the pressure as well and we’ll see who handles it better over the weekend.”

The 28-year-old, who will be cheered on by a passionate home support in Scotland, added that he had played some of the best tennis of his career in the competition.

"When I am competing for my country I have played some of the best tennis of my life. So, I obviously enjoy it and it inspires me," Murray said. "Obviously I didn't play as well as I would have liked in New York but hopefully I can turn it around here."

It is Great Britain’s first semi-final for 34 years, and the nine-time champions are now the favourites to win the event for the first time since 1936.

Captain Leon Smith is still to decide on his second singles player with James Ward, Kyle Edmund and late call up Dan Evans vying for the spot.

Australia, led by captain Wally Masur, have had their own selection problems after Nick Kyrgios, the second-highest ranked Australian, was left out of the squad by mutual agreement.

Bernard Tomic and Thanasi Kokkinakis are the highest-ranked singles players for the 28-time winners, with Hewitt and Sam Groth likely to play doubles.

The winners will play either Argentina or Belgium in the final.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com