Croatia to meet France in Davis Cup final

Borna Coric kept his cool to prevail in a thrilling winner-takes-all duel with Frances Tiafoe, steering Croatia into the final of the Davis Cup with a 3-2 victory over the United States.

In the final Croatia will meet France, after the French squad on Saturday built an unassailable 3-0 lead over Spain in Lille.

The 21-year-old Coric came from two sets to one down to defeat the 20-year-old 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 from two down.

“This is the most special moment of my whole life; by far,” Coric said.

“If there were not (fan support) I would lose in the fourth set for sure, because my head was deep in the water.”

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— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 16, 2018

Substitute Sam Querrey had rewarded captain Jim Courier’s gamble for the fourth rubber by beating home talisman Marin Cilic 6-7(2) 7-6(6) 6-3 6-4 to take the semifinal into a deciding match.

Cilic led the second-set tiebreak 6-1 with multiple chances to take a two-sets-to-love lead, but dropped seven straight points, and the next two sets.

With everything resting on the first duel between two of the brightest young stars in tennis, Coric overcame the loss of two very contrasting tiebreaks to book Croatia’s place against France in the 23-25 November final.

Coric capitulated 7-0 in the first-set breaker and dropped the third-set breaker 13-11 – having held a 5-1 lead in the third set – but held his nerve to prevail after battle of four hours, six minutes.

Meanwhile, Spain won the final day singles matches against France to give the tie a more respectable 3-2 scoreline.

A day after France sealed their spot in the final when Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut won the doubles to give the hosts an unassailable lead, both teams used substitutes for the reverse singles encounters with nothing but pride at stake.

Albert Ramos Vinolas beat Richard Gasquet 1-6 6-4 [14-12] before Marcel Granollers edged Mahut 6-7(2) 6-3 [13-11].

Defending champions France have reached back-to-back finals for the first time since 2002 while 2005 winners Croatia are into their third final.