Russia wins its third Davis Cup against Croatia

The Russian team of Davis Cup He was proclaimed champion of his third ‘Salad Bowl’ thanks to the victories this Sunday of Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev upon Marin Cilic (7-6 (7), 6-2) and Borna Gojo (6-4, 7-6 (5), at the end of the 2021 Finals at the Madrid Arena.

The world number two (Medvedev) certified the Russian title, which had not been lifted at the Tennis World Cup since 2006. Croatia was on the ropes after the first match of the tie and Cilic he couldn’t beat the US Open champion.

Aware of the danger of reaching the doubles, where the powerful men threatened Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, Medvedev he gritted his teeth to try to make it 2-0. The two contenders squandered two chances of break in a first set that had to be resolved in the tie-break, where the Russian needed three set balls.

Loaded with morale, the world number two found more facilities in the second round. A break in the fourth game paved the way, and another in the eighth allowed him to win the contest and the third ‘Salad Bowl’ for his country (2002, 2006 and 2021).

The first point was fought by the revelation Borna Gojo, but Rublev ended the resistance of the young Croatian without leaving a gap with his serve. The world number five did not face any ball of break, while Gojo had to sweat on more than one occasion. Rublev, which was already lethal two years ago in Madrid, left Russia within a victory of its third ‘Salad Bowl’ after an hour and a half.

His attacks on the rest paid off in the seventh game, where he achieved the ‘break’ that touched both in the first game of the final and in the third. With the minimum income, Rublev he pointed his sleeve and continued with the same intensity in the second act. Gojo he endured until he reached a sudden death also dominated by the Russian.