2021 Davis Cup Final – Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia – Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia on and what time does it start? Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia will run from Sunday 5th December, 2021 not before 15:00 (UK)
Where is Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia taking place? Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia will take place at the Madrid Arena, Madrid, Spain
What surface is Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia being played on? Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia will take place on an indoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia
What channel is Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia on? Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia will be televised on Eurosport 1 live in the UK
Where can I stream Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia? Eurosport subscribers can stream Russian Tennis Federation vs Croatia live via their platform or via a Eurosport pass on Amazon Prime
THE LOWDOWN
The Russian Tennis Federation won the ATP Cup at the start of 2021 with a similar mixture of top quality singles players and a mire than decent doubles partnership featuring Andrey Rublev and one of Aslan Karatsev and Karen Khachanov. They have not required a doubles rubber in their last two ties, though, with Rublev and Daniil Medvedev getting the job done in the singles to win the quarter-finals over Sweden and Saturday’s semi-final with Germany 2-0. 24-year-old Rublev’s straight-sets dismissal of Dominik Koepfer was especially impressive given the struggles he has found this week to put away much lower-ranked opposition.
Team Croatia looked dark horses for the Davis Cup title from the outset as the side boasting a former US Open champion in Marin Cilic and, most importantly, the world number one doubles pairing of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. Mektic and Pavic proved themselves invaluable once again on Friday as their combined prowess in doubles was too much for possibly the greatest singles player of all time as Croatia beat Serbia 2-1 to reach the final. Croatia’s hidden gem, though, is world number 279 Borna Gojo as the 23-year-old came back from a set down to beat Dusan Lajovic and force a crucial doubles decider. The 23-year-old has played just six ATP tour matches in his career so far but if he can replicate this form next season we should be seeing much more of him.
THE PREDICTION
As most often is the case in the Davis Cup, this final rests squarely on the shoulders of second option players Borna Gojo and Andrey Rublev. 23-year-old Gojo has beaten world number 61 Alexei Popyrin, number 33 Dusan Lajovic and number 27 Lorenzo Sonego this campaign in his three matches so far but taking out world number five Andrey Rublev would be astounding. Even though the Russian has looked jaded and frustrated in most of his matches this week, he has still won all four to give an almost unassailable challenge to the opposing side’s first options: taking on world number two Daniil Medvedev.
25-year-old Medvedev has not conceded a set this week and he will be confident of making it a perfect record when he goes up against world number 30 Marin Cilic, who has won just one of his three matches at the Davis Cup Finals. Medvedev leads Cilic 2-0 in their head-to-head record but their most recent contest went to five sets in the third round of Wimbledon this season. Off the grass, however, Cilic will be less effective and Medvedev more so on his favoured hard court and in front of a crowd that will likely egg him on no matter who they support.
This looks set to be a thrilling final if Borna Gojo can do the improbable once again and take out a top 10 player for the first time in his young career. After winning three out of three, it is hard not to give him the benefit of the doubt against Andrey Rublev even though the head call is that the Russian should come through in three sets here. That makes Medvedev’s job easier against Marin Cilic and therefore suggests a 2-0 win for the RTF. If Gojo can beat Rublev the final will simply be spun on its axis, with Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic able to win a doubles decider against two singles players. Rublev and Karatsev are strong doubles players having faced off as part of Mixed Doubles pairings in the Olympic Final but Mektic and Pavic were the Men’s Double Gold Medallists in Tokyo and their quality should tell. Essentially, whichever team wins the first rubber on Sunday should more than likely go on to win the Davis Cup, but Russia are the solid favourites to take it 2-0.
