Croatia lead 2-0 in Davis Cup final

Day One of the Davis Cup Final in Lille, France

France (1) v Croatia (4)

Rubber One

Jérémy Chardy (France) v Borna Coric (Croatia)

Chardy opened proceedings with a nervous service game including two double faults and several errors, mainly off his forehand. Still he had a number of game points, all of which were wasted, and Coric achieved the break - that was the signal for him to control the match.

After such a long game, Coric won the next three without losing a point to lead 4-0, and the set was soon his 6-2.

For the set, Coric won 16 of 19 points on serve, whereas Chardy could only manage 17 of 36.

Both players saved break points in the third and fourth games of set two,  and Chardy was far more competitive. However, Coric snapped the impasse at 5-5, and ran out the set 7-5.

An injury time out didn’t stop the young Croatian who faced no further break points and won 6-2 7-5 6-4.

Rubber Two

Jo-Wildried Tsonga (France) v Marin Cilic (Croatia)

Cilic served well throughout, not allowing Tsonga into the match.  The Frenchman showed flashes of brilliance, but he was unable to match Cilic who won 20 of 21 points on his serve in set one, and jumped all over any weakness on the Tsonga second serve.

One service break was enough to secure the set 6-3.

Tsonga had two break chances in the eighth game of set two, but couldn’t convert, and it was Cilic with a big forehand return winner that broke for 6-5.  An easy service hold followed and Croatia had a two set lead.

Eight aces and 14 winners from Cilic in the third set, and he used the only break opportunity given him to maximum advantage.  Tsonga wasted all three of his.

The match was all Cilic’s 6-3 7-5 6-4, an almost identical scoreline to the first match.

After Day One

France 0 Croatia 2