It was not third time’s a charm for the U.S. Davis Cup team against Croatia this past weekend in Porec, Croatia, as the Croats eliminated the Americans in the Davis Cup quarterfinals 3–2. The U.S. has now lost all three times it has faced Croatia in Davis Cup action.
The hero for the Croatia was 20-year-old Marin Cilic, ranked world No. 15, who won two singles matches including the clincher on Sunday over James Blake, ranked 17th in the world, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2.
“It’s one of the best matches I played. I played on adrenaline,” Cilic told Davis Cup Radio.
“The crowd was carrying me throughout the match.”
“I gave him [Cilic] a few too many chances, being a little too passive. He took advantage of that,” said Blake.
Without their top gun Andy Roddick, who pulled out with a hip injury after his epic Wimbledon final, U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe elected James Blake their No. 1. Blake wound up losing both his singles matches.
“He’s our No. 1, he’s our leader,” said Blake about Roddick. “I tried to fill in as best I could. I didn’t have it in me this weekend, unfortunately.”
“A couple of times I wish I could borrow his serve for a match or two”
The tie started inauspiciously for the U.S. on Friday when 6’10” Ivo Karlovic came back from a two-set deficit to beat Blake 6–7, 4–6, 6–3, 7–6, 7–5. The win marked Karlovic’s first ever victory in five sets. Karlovic got a big boost from the home crowd support. It would be hard to fathom Blake losing a two-set lead to Karlovic had the tie been played in the U.S.
The tie was played on an indoor clay court, which is a very different surface from Wimbledon and certainly not a favorite of Blake or Mardy Fish, who played the second singles match for the U.S.
“We lost to a great team,” said McEnroe.
In two trips to Croatia the U.S. has come up empty-handed. McEnroe pointed out, “Not coincidentally, both times we came here, we came here without Andy Roddick.”
In other Davis Cup quarterfinal action on Sunday, Israel beat Russia 4–1, the Czech Republic beat Argentina 3–2, and defending champion Spain beat Germany 3–2.
In the semifinals, Croatia will host the Czech Republic and Spain will host Israel. The semis will be played in September.
The U.S. begin their 2010 Davis Cup season next March.
The hero for the Croatia was 20-year-old Marin Cilic, ranked world No. 15, who won two singles matches including the clincher on Sunday over James Blake, ranked 17th in the world, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2.
“It’s one of the best matches I played. I played on adrenaline,” Cilic told Davis Cup Radio.
“The crowd was carrying me throughout the match.”
“I gave him [Cilic] a few too many chances, being a little too passive. He took advantage of that,” said Blake.
Without their top gun Andy Roddick, who pulled out with a hip injury after his epic Wimbledon final, U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe elected James Blake their No. 1. Blake wound up losing both his singles matches.
“He’s our No. 1, he’s our leader,” said Blake about Roddick. “I tried to fill in as best I could. I didn’t have it in me this weekend, unfortunately.”
“A couple of times I wish I could borrow his serve for a match or two”
The tie started inauspiciously for the U.S. on Friday when 6’10” Ivo Karlovic came back from a two-set deficit to beat Blake 6–7, 4–6, 6–3, 7–6, 7–5. The win marked Karlovic’s first ever victory in five sets. Karlovic got a big boost from the home crowd support. It would be hard to fathom Blake losing a two-set lead to Karlovic had the tie been played in the U.S.
The tie was played on an indoor clay court, which is a very different surface from Wimbledon and certainly not a favorite of Blake or Mardy Fish, who played the second singles match for the U.S.
“We lost to a great team,” said McEnroe.
In two trips to Croatia the U.S. has come up empty-handed. McEnroe pointed out, “Not coincidentally, both times we came here, we came here without Andy Roddick.”
In other Davis Cup quarterfinal action on Sunday, Israel beat Russia 4–1, the Czech Republic beat Argentina 3–2, and defending champion Spain beat Germany 3–2.
In the semifinals, Croatia will host the Czech Republic and Spain will host Israel. The semis will be played in September.
The U.S. begin their 2010 Davis Cup season next March.
