Croatia vs Sweden – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Davis Cup Finals
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Croatia vs Sweden on and what time does it start? Croatia vs Sweden will take place on Thursday 15th September, 2022 – not before 15:00 (UK)
Where is Croatia vs Sweden taking place? Croatia vs Sweden will take place at Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy
What surface is Croatia vs Sweden being played on? Croatia vs Sweden will take place on an indoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Croatia vs Sweden? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Croatia vs Sweden
What channel is Croatia vs Sweden on in the UK? TBC
Where can I stream Croatia vs Sweden in the UK? TBC
THE LOWDOWN
Last season’s runners-up Croatia got off to the poorest start possible with a 3-0 defeat by Italy, who had the benefit of a fierce home crowd in Bologna. 24-year-old Borna Gojo was not able to replicate his heroics from last season, when he won his first three games as second option to Marin Cilic to see Croatia through to the latter stages, as he fell in straight sets to world number 30 Lorenzo Musetti. Former world number two Borna Coric put in a masterful display to take the first set from Matteo Berrettini, who stood in for Jannik Sinner as first option, before the Italian turned the screw to win in three but there was promise in Croatia’s first option, who recently came back from a long injury lay-off to win his first Masters title at the Cincinnati Masters. Croatia’s trump card doubles team of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic then lost from a set up to Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini, although the stuffing had been knocked out of them by then in front of a partisan crowd.
Sweden produced perhaps the shock result of the first round of group stages at the Davis Cup as brothers Mikael and Elias Ymer both won their singles matches against significantly higher-ranked players in world number 37 Sebastian Baez and number 17 Diego Schwartzman. Elias Ymer was particularly impressive in taking the first set and a tight deciding tiebreak from Baez, perhaps making use of the hardcourts in Bologna against more comfortable clay-courters, but Mikael Ymer’s straight sets victory over Schwartzman was as prolific for the world number 98 as it was poor for the Argentine.
THE PREDICTION
A 2-1 victory over Argentina was not in the script in Group A and Sweden now face a huge, previously pretty unlikely, chance at progressing if they can heap more misery on Croatia. The Swedes will know their best bet is winning the first two matches as Croatia’s Mektic and Pavic should be far too strong for any combination they can come up with in a decider but even a 2-1 loss to Croatia would not be the end of the world after their heroics against Argentina. The likelihood is that Borna Coric can beat Mikael Ymer here, given his performance against Matteo Berrettini, so much of this tie will rest on the opening clash between Elias Ymer and Borna Gojo. World number 164 Gojo produced some clutch results at the Davis Cup last season when it mattered but Elias Ymer will have the more recent confidence of one of his best wins in recent years over Baez behind him. Back Croatia to win outright here, or 2-1 for a higher risk, with Italy capable of making any nations look lesser this week.
