Davis Cup Quarterfinal Capsules: Heroics from Britain, Croatia
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GREAT BRITAIN d. SERBIA 3-2
ADHEREL
The Brits went into Belgrade and came out with a giant upset win without Andy Murray. Kyle Edmund beat Janko Tipsarevic in straights in the first match, and after Brits Dominic Inglot/Jamie Murray beat Filip Krajinovic/Nenad Zimonjic in four, Edmund wrapped it up with a straight-set win over Dusan Lajovic.
“I am so happy to have won this one for the team,” the 21-year-old Edmund said. “It was very emotional to win today knowing what was on the line and at stake.”
Great Britain in the September semifinals will host Argentina.
ARGENTINA d. ITALY 3-1
Federico Delbonis played the hero for Argentina with two singles wins, beating Andreas Seppi in his first match in four sets, and clinched it with a four-set win over Fabio Fognini.
In between Juan Martin del Potro teamed with Guido Pella to win the doubles point for Argentina, beating Fognini/Paolo Lorenzi in five sets.
FRANCE d. CZECH REPUBLIC 3-1
France was too deep for the Czechs in Trinec, the Czech Republic, as Lucas Pouille won in singles over Jiri Vesely in straights, the French doubles tandem of Pierre-Hughes Herbert/Nicolas Mahut beat Lukas Rosol/Radek Stepanek in five, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga clinched it in the first Sunday singles by defeating Vesely in four sets.
“It was perfect, I am really happy,” said French captain Yannick Noah, who will see his team travel to Croatia for the semifinals. “We have a new generation that came into the locker room. It gives a really different dimension to our team. The fact that they won will give them so much confidence. I hope they keep playing like this.”
CROATIA d. USA 3-2
It was a great weekend in Beaverton, Ore., for the U.S. team, until it wasn’t.
Leading 2-0 after Day 1, the U.S. saw a rare Bryan brothers loss on Saturday to Croats Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig, then the visitors turned it on Sunday when Cilic overpowered Isner in straight sets, and Day 1 hero Jack Sock was beaten in four sets by Borna Coric in the decider.
“It’s not easy to play in a fifth match obviously,” said Coric, who saw Croatia back from an 0-2 brink for the first time ever, and to 4-0 all time against the U.S. “I have to be honest, I like that kind of situation. I like it more than playing on the Court 27 somewhere far away from the crowd, the people. I just like big stage more, when it’s more important. When I have more pressure, when the expectations are big. I like those occasions.”
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