The Russians were consecrated in 2002 and 2006; while the Croats did in 2005 and 2018.
Russia and Croatia aim for third Davis Cup title in the final that they will play this Sunday at the Madrid Arena, That says goodbye as the venue for the competition to give way from next year to a stage that will be made public before Andrey Rublev and Borna Gojo take to the track, although everything indicates that it will be Abu Dhabi.
The Russian painting, led by Daniil Medvedev, intractable in Madrid, has fulfilled the condition of favorite that he intends to sign in the last confrontation. Croatia, always supported by the best doubles pair in the world made up of Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic, will try to make the balance of their team profitable, to which it has been worth it with the inspiration of Gojo, probably a revelation of the tournament.
Russia aims to reaffirm the dominance it is presumed to be in tennis today and that has been evident in each of the great tournaments that he has played as a team. In the Olympic Games, in the Billie Jean King Cup, the equivalent of the Davis Cup in women’s competition, and the Junior Davis Cup. An enlarged harvest with Medvedev’s conquest of the US Open.
Madrid will not have, in his farewell, the expected face to face between the two best in the world. Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. The Serbian won all his matches, but his team was beaten by Croatia, who intend to regain the crown they won in 2018.
The Croatian team has accumulated two successes in the tournament. It is the most successful team at this event in recent times. Madrid is his third appearance in the final in the last five years. He was champion in 2005 and 2018 with Marin Cilic and Pavic in their ranks. Same as now. They aspire to their third crown.
The team captained by Vedran Martic has had the Borna Gojo inspiration. A tennis player on the sidelines of the flash throughout the year, ranked 279, without any title in his history, which is transformed when he defends his flag.
The 22-year-old tennis player from Split has complied every time he has been claimed by his captain. He has won every game. First the Australian Alexei Popyrin, then the Italian Lorenzo Sonego and in the semifinals, Dusan Lajovic. He did not play against Hungary. Martic gave number two to Nino Serdarusic.
It has been the Balkan trick in Madrid. Marin Cilic starts as the first of the players, but he was only able to carry out the clash with the Australian Alex de Miñaur. He lost to Hungarian Zsombor Pires, Italian Jannik Sinner and Djokovic. They do not count on their victory for the appointment against Medvedev.
Croatia needs to reach the doubles alive, in which it has resolved each tie.
Quite the opposite of Russia, which has the solvency of its two individuals to prematurely seal the duel. Tarpischev’s team has won every match except one. Not counting the inconsequential duel in pairs against Germany, with the semifinal sentenced, Russia only yielded against Spain.
Rublev was overtaken by Feliciano López. It was the only game he lost, although the Muscovite, number five in the world, also struggled with the Ecuadorian Roberto Quiroz and the Swede Elias Ymer in the quarterfinals.
Andrey Rublev, however, dispelled doubts in the semifinal against the German Nikolas Koepfer, whom he beat in 49 minutes. The Muscovite is part of the doubles with Aslan Karatsev, who resolved the duel against Spain and rounded off the success against Ecuador. His presence in the quarterfinals was not necessary, against Sweden. Nor against Germany.
Russia is also aiming for its third crown. Although the last one was three decades ago, in 2006, when they beat Argentina. Four years earlier he released his record against France. He has lost, however, three finals. Those of 1994, against Sweden, and those of 1995 and 2007 against the United States.
Two years ago, without Medvedev in their ranks, the Russian team reached the semifinals and were beaten by Canada, who lost in the fight for the title against Spain.
Russia and Croatia meet for the third time in the Davis Cup. The first was in 2005, with the Balkan triumph 3-2 in the semi-finals played in Split. The other was two years ago, with the new format. Also in Madrid. The Russian team prevailed 3-0 in the group stage clash. (D)
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