Djokovic knocks Cilic down to stay alive at Davis

Novak Djokovic, determined to take the Salad Bowl from Madrid, did not fail against Marin Cilic (6-4 and 6-2 in 1h 39) for tie the semifinal against Croatia. The number one will now have to go back on track with Nikola Cacic to star in a titanic task: knock down Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic, the best couple in the ATP ranking. That, after the surprising Borna Gojo will scratch the first point of the series against Dusan Lajovic 4-6, 6-3 and 6-2 in 1h: 58.

Among the “Come on Nole!” and the “Idemo!” of the Madrid Arena crowd, who has adopted the Serbian, Djokovic displayed mettle against Cilic (17-2 before in the head-to-head). Serbia and Croatia, two peoples that shared the flag of Yugoslavia and ended in a war, were measured on the track. Dhe Real Madrid players, the Croatian Luka Modric and the Serbian Luka Jovic, cheered from the stands. And the cannibal from Belgrade imposed his hierarchy.

In the first set, Djokovic broke for 5-4 and then neutralized four break balls from the 2014 US Open champion and that it is now 30th in the world. Agile on his legs that seem to go on rails, tucked behind to subtract the cannon shots from Cilic (1.98 m.), the Serbian leader squeezed in the second set to achieve two breaks and save energy for the doubles. Mission accomplished.

Before that, Davis had continued to nurture her story of heroes. Like Gojo’s, a 23-year-old and 279th tennis player. , a regular among challengers, who has become a very dangerous tennis player dressed in the red Croatian elastic and who opened the duel with victory. He had just defeated Australian Alexei Popyrin (61st) and Italian Lorenzo Sonego (27th) in the quarterfinals., his first wins against top-100. And he also managed to stop Lajovic, a tennis player who was in his 20th game at Davis (11-9 on balance), with the poise of his 31 years and the 33rd position in the ranking.

Gojo started the first set with a break (2-0), but the Serbian overcame to endorse two breaks and take the sleeve. Everything seemed to indicate that his beautiful story was going to end. But the Croatian struggled, determined not to let go of the revelation player tag. From its 1.96 m. He handled the serve well (77% of points won with firsts), he endured when Lajovic made a counterbreak in the second to achieve another break and in the third he finished off, cold in a hot duel between neighbors not always well agreed.