With a 2-0 victory over the hosts Spain in Malaga on Wednesday, two-time champions Croatia superior to the Davis Cup’s ultimate 4 for the sixth time.
Marin Cilic rallied to clinch the profitable level for Croatia with a 5-7 6-3 7-6(5) victory over Pablo Carreno Busta after Borna Coric had earlier given his aspect the lead with a 6-4 7-6(4) win over Roberto Bautista Agut.
With Carreno Busta up 5-4 within the third set tiebreaker and two factors away from forcing a deciding doubles rubber, Cilic fired down an ace to attract degree after which coolly went on to seal the win in three hours and 13 minutes.
Croatia, who completed runner-up to Russia in final yr’s Davis Cup ultimate, will play Australia in semifinal motion on Friday in Malaga.
A misfiring Cilic managed to carry serve within the opening sport of the match regardless of 4 double faults and that inaccuracy on the service line was an indication of issues to return for the Croatian, who combined 20 aces with 15 double faults.
Cilic began to seek out his groove within the second set the place he managed to consolidate a break for a 5-2 lead after which went on to drive a decider.
After the 2 gamers mixed for 4 service breaks throughout a six-game span of the third set, Carreno Busta held for a 5-4 lead however Cilic additionally steadied the ship and managed to push it to a tiebreaker the place he shortly fell behind 4-1.
In the day’s first match, Coric was strong from the service line as he fired down 12 aces and turned apart the one break level he confronted en path to securing the victory in slightly below two hours.
Coric broke to go 4-3 up within the opening set and after Bautista Agut held to like within the subsequent sport it was the Croatian who saved a break level to carry serve and shut out the body.
The two gamers then mixed for 5 love holds throughout a tightly-contested second set throughout which neither confronted a break level earlier than Coric raced out to a 4-1 lead within the tiebreak after which secured the win on his third match level.
