World number 144 Borna Gojo battled past Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) in Perth to secure Croatia a spot in the City Finals at the United Cup. The Croatian team set up a clash against Greece.
Mannarino was not able to serve out for the match at 5-3 in the third set. Gojo earned three match points in the 12th game. Mannarino fended them off but Gojo opened up a 5-1 lead en route to winning the tie-break 7-5.
“I don’t how I won the match. No real answer. I just tried to take the support from the team and take the energy. I was a bit down in the third set, and thanks to them, I won. Without them I would have lost”, said Gojo.
Mannarino had come within of winning the Group F match.
“We knew that 2-0 is a big lead and put more pressure on France today, but we knew every match was going to be tough today. They had their top players playing, and very open matches. It could have gone both ways. In the mixed doubles match you never know. They were probably a little bit favourites in the mixed doubles”, said Croatian captain Iva Majoli.
Earlier in the day Last year’s WTA Final champion Caroline Garcia beat Petra Martic 7-6 (11-9) 6-4 to reduce France’s deficit to 1-2 in the decisive Group F tie. France needed a win from Garcia to keep their hopes of advancing to the City Finals alive.
Martic earned more chances on return and dropped just four points on her on serve in the first 12 games. Garcia saved break points in the first and ninth games and a set point at 6-7 in the tie-break before converting her fifth chance with a short forehand.
Garcia fended off two break points at the start of the second set before breaking Martic at love with a volley winner. The 2022 WTA Finals champion dropped just four points on serve to seal the second set 6-4.
“It was a very tough match. I was expecting a tough battle against Petra. We played a couple of times in 2022. It’s always going to be a battle of serves, and who can be the most aggressive. The first set was great tennis, especially the intensity of the tie-break. That was a crazy scenario. I am just pleased that I was able to stay very calm and focused, one point at a time, even after I did some easy mistakes”, said Caroline Garcia.
