It was six sets set out of six for Croatia as Marin Cilic completed a perfect day in Lille for the visitors as they lead France 2-0 after the first day of the Davis Cup Final.
The world number seven defeated Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 6-3 7-5 6-4 to give Croatia a 2-0 lead after the first day of the Davis Cup final.
In the opening rubber in-form Borna Coric cruised past Jeremy Chardy 6-2 7-5 6-4 to give the Croats the early lead. The French team have never won a clay court Davis Cup final on home soil.
Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic can win the Davis Cup for Croatia with a win over Roland Garros champions Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicolas Mahut tomorrow.
The former US Open champion started his match with Tsonga in the best possible fashion, with the intensity visible right from the start.
Even though he has hardly played in 2018, the Frenchman matched Cilic’s intensity in the early stages and looked up for the fight.
In the end the Croatian’s massive returning was the key as he broke in the sixth game to silence the fiery Lille crowd. Despite wasting a set point on the eighth game, the Croatian sealed the opening stanza on his own deal in 38 minutes.
Croatia's @cilic_marin takes the opening set 63 against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
🇫🇷0️⃣🆚1️⃣🇭🇷 #DavisCupFinal pic.twitter.com/wfeVZAFQMF
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 23, 2018
The second set was much better from Tsonga as he used his athleticism to try and fight in the match as he aimed to break Croatia’s consecutive set run.
Even though a couple of break points were created, Tsonga couldn’t break down the intimidating serve of Cilic as the Croatian was much more composed than he has been this season.
Just like the match before a critical break in the eleventh game broke the French spirit down and Cilic successfully gained a 2 sets to love lead.
Physicality was a big problem for Tsonga as it seemed it had hit Noah what a poor decision it was to pick Chardy and Tsonga in the team.
A double fault sealed another break for Cilic and the veteran wasn’t about to let this lead slip. Another big smash sealed the match and a comfortable 2-0 lead after day one in Lille.
Tsonga fell to tears as Cilic basked in glory on what could be a crucial day in Croatia’s bid to win a first Davis Cup title since 2005.
Coric Cruises Past Chardy
Earlier in the day, Croatia took a 1-0 lead after an in-form Borna Coric cruised past Jeremy Chardy 6-2 7-5 6-4. Despite a decent start from Chardy he couldn’t keep up with the big-hitting Croat consistently after Coric broke in an 11 minute game to begin the match.
Too many missed first serves saw Coric build on his early momentum as his devastating forehands sealed an early double break lead. As Chardy found his rhythm at the end of the set, Coric’s defence continued to remain firm and after 37 minutes he earned his reward by taking the first set.
Although he’s not a regular pick for the Davis Cup team, Chardy was giving a good account of himself in the second set as he served much better. The world number 40 showed more aggression on his serve but the problem was that there was a lack of pressure being put on Coric’s serve.
Eventually the Croat weathered the Chardy storm to break in the eleventh game and serve out a 2 sets to love lead. Even though Coric had treatment on his fatigued thighs in the third set, the damage was already done to Chardy.
Croatia takes a 1-0 lead in the #DavisCupFinal after a 62 75 64 win for @borna_coric over Jeremy Chardy in the opening rubber in Lille!
🇫🇷0️⃣🆚1️⃣🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/e4d4ABNPV7
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 23, 2018
The world number 12 would break early in the third and seal a comfortable first rubber for Croatia in Lille. After the match Coric expressed his delight at victory, “I was very aggressive, I was very calm and I didn’t lose my nerve in the second set. I had a few break points in the second but didn’t take them, but I stayed calm and that was the key I think. I served really well in the important moments.”
Tomorrow’s doubles will see Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicolas Mahut take on Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic. Should Croatia win a well-balanced doubles match then they will lift their first Davis Cup title for 13 years.
