Davis Cup Final: Croatia Win Doubles Tie to Take 2-1 Lead vs Argentina
Croatia are just a win away from lifting the Davis Cup 2016 title, after taking a 2-1 lead courtesy of their victory in Saturday's doubles match
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: November 26, 2016 11:29 pm IST
Highlights
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Croatia have taken a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup final
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Croatia need one more win to lift the title this year
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Argentina will have to win Sunday's singles matches to claim the title
Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig beat Argentine pair Juan Martin del Potro and Leonardo Mayer 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4, 6-3 in Saturday's doubles to put Croatia 2-1 up in the Davis Cup final.
Former US Open champion Cilic gave Croatia the upper hand by winning Friday's opening singles rubber against Federico Delbonis before Del Potro levelled for Argentina with a four-set win over Ivo Karlovic.Â
Both Cilic and Del Potro were drafted in for Saturday's doubles with the former teaming up with Dodig to claim the first two sets in a tie-break before wrapping up victory after Mayer dropped serve at 3-2 down in the third.Â
Olympic silver medallist Del Potro, who has bounced back after two injury-ravaged seasons, must beat sixth-ranked Cilic in Sunday's reverse singles to keep alive Argentine hopes of a first Davis Cup title.
Karlovic and Delbonis would then face off in the deciding rubber.Â
Croatia defeated Slovakia in 2005 for the country's only Davis Cup title, while Argentina -- beaten by Spain in both 2008 and 2011 -- have finished runners-up four times.