Croatia outclasses South Africa to move into WG 2012 – Davis Cup 2011 WG Play-offs
The South African squad proved too bleak for the impressive Team Croatia in the Davis Cup World Group ties, suffering a heavy defeat to finish their voyage in the tournament. The Croatians registered a 4-1 crushing victory against
South African team to make it to the next round of the Davis Cup.
It was the first time that the two nations went one-on-one in the Davis Cup encounters and Croatia outclassed it opponent in style. The competition was held at the Fanie Du Toit Sports Stadium, Potchefstroom, South Africa, with
the local boys failing to live up to the expectations of their enthusiastic home crowd.
The local side was captained by John-Laffnie de Jager and the winner of this years’ South African Open, Kevin Anderson, led the attack from the South African sides. He had Rik de Voest, Izak van der Merwe and Raven Klaasen with
him in the side but none of them won a match except him.
The Croatians were captained by Goran Prpic, with their number one player, Marin Cilic, as the spearhead in the tie. Ivan Dodig, Antonio Veic and Nikola Mektic were the other members of the strong Croatian squad.
Anderson was the only South African to win a singles rubber in the tie, with his side losing all the other four matches to finish at 1-4. The South Africans were given a perfect start by Anderson, who outplayed Dodig in four sets
6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5), to take his side one up early to put pressure on the opposition.
The Croatians got a sigh of relief when Cilic blew away Van der Merwe to win the second singles rubber in the tie. The South African dropped the opening two sets 0-6, 0-6, before retiring in the third set due to injury, letting
the Team Croatia level the tie at 1-1.
The Croatian duo of Cilic and Dodig then took down De Voest and Klaasen in the doubles matchup next day, breaking their side into a 2-1 lead in the competition. Once getting into the winning groove, the Croatians never turned back
in the tie and Cilic ensured victory for his side by winning the third singles rubber against De Voest in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Mektic then wrapped up the last rubber by outplaying Klaasen 7-6(2), 6-1, to give his side a convincing victory at 4-1 and moving into the next round of the Davis Cup, which will be played towards the end of November.
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