SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday November 29, 2020

 
Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic

Croatia rode an upset victory by Borna Gojo, and their world-class doubles team finished off Italy on Monday in Turin.

Photo Source: Getty

Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic took out Fabio Fognini and Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-4 on Monday evening in Turin to send Croatia through to the Davis Cup semifinals for the fifth time.

Tennis Express

The world’s top two doubles players never faced a break point and they converted a break in each set to pull past the Italian duo in 79 minutes.

"I think we would sign off for 1-All to have a live match in doubles," Pavic said after the match. "Obviously we were not expecting to win the first match. We did. But, yeah, I mean, we felt some pressure, but I think we played also in the group stage two good matches, especially the first one. Even today we played incredibly well. I think we didn't [face] any breakpoints."

Pavic and Mektic's victory was made possible by the heroics of Borna Gojo, who defeated Lorenzo Sonego in the opening rubber, 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-2. The World No.279 had not defeated a player ranked inside the Top-100 until he got the best of the World No.27 on Monday.


“I would say this was special, as is anytime I play in Davis Cup for national team,” 23-year-old Gojo said. “I said it many times: every win for Croatia is the best win and it means the most to me. This is the one now that's my best win. I'm very happy that I was able to get the point for us.”

Gojo broke twice in the third set and saved all three break points he faced to finish off his victory.

“Borna is a good player,” Sonego said after the match. “He has a good serve. Yeah, but my tennis today wasn't good, especially in the first set, because I was 4-1 up, and the lost the concentration. I lost this set. Was not easy to win [after that].”


Jannik Sinner remained undefeated in singles with a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 takedown of Marin Cilic, despite the fact that Cilic served for the clinch at 5-4 in the second set. Sinner's dramatic singles victory could not keep Croatia from grabbing the victory.

“Everyone gave 100,” Sinner said of Team Italy’s effort. “Today we were a little bit unfortunate at one point. What happened this night, it's much more important than a simple competition. We tried our best.”

 

Latest News