Davis Cup: Cilic and Djokovic support Ivanisevic as Croatia's captain
At the Davis Cup final tournament in Madrid, Franko Skugor spontaneously helped out as captain of the Croatian team. In the future, however, the signs point to Goran Ivanisevic.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 25, 2019, 01:57 pm
Whether you like the first edition of the Davis Cup final tournament in Madrid or not, there was no shortage of emotions among the captains on the bench. Be it the Chileans with Nicolas Massu, the Spaniards with Sergi Bruguera or basically any other team that was involved in tight matches. Or in less promising discussions with the referees for narrow decisions that have turned out to the disadvantage of their own team.
For the Croatian team, which failed in the preliminary round in the group of eventual champions Spain, went double specialist Franko Skugor as temporary chief. Shortly before the final tournament, the Croatians had surprisingly parted ways with long-time captain Zeljko Krajan. Not by mutual agreement, as Krajan emphasized.
Cilic and Djokovic would be happy
For the near future, however, this could mean that Goran Ivanisevic takes on the role of Croatian team captain. In any event, the Wimbledon champion of 2001 has found two prominent advocates: Novak Djokovic, whose team Ivanisevic has been coaching since the summer of 2019, and Marin Cilic, who in 2014 became his biggest career success, winning the US Open.
"I have no problem whatsoever," Cilic told a Croatian portal. "I would prefer Goran to accept the post because it belongs to him. It would be nice for him and positive for all of us. "Novak Djokovic comes in the same horn. "You have to look at everything, but I would not mind, and it would be natural for Goran to become the coach of Croatia. Honestly, this is the first time I've heard of this possibility, but Goran has my support. "