Davis Cup: Mixed feelings in Malaga
While the Spanish national football team celebrated a historic success at the World Cup in Qatar, the hosts failed at the Davis Cup in Málaga in the quarter-finals against Croatia.
by Florian Heer
last edit: Nov 24, 2022, 09:52 am
It was a day of mixed feelings for Spain's sports fans on Wednesday in Malaga. While the football fans in the city center defied the Winter World Cup in Qatar at a pleasant 25 degrees on the terraces of the cafés and restaurants and were able to celebrate a historic 7-0 win over Costa Rica, the Spanish Davis Cup team was eliminated in front of their home crowd against Croatia in the "Final Eight Tournament" in the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena .
football or tennis?
Since both games were played at the same time, the aficionados were spoiled for choice. However, the second largest city in Andalusia was well attended in the afternoon and early evening in all corners. Again and again the red Spanish national jerseys mingled with the numerous tourists in the historic center of Malaga.
Meanwhile, around 9,000 fans in the southern multi-purpose arena, home of the local basketball club, watched Borna Coric put the Croatians ahead with a 6-4, 7-6(4) over Roberto Bautista Agut. An outstanding 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5) comeback win by Marin Cilic over Pablo Carreno Busta followed and Spain was out of their home tournament.
“It was a very close match. I probably played better at the beginning and was more aggressive," Carreno Busta analyzed afterwards. “However, he made more mistakes at the beginning with his forehand and also when serving. I had an easier time there. In the second set, however, he started to put pressure on me with his return. I think I played a good match, but Marin was better in the end and won."
Croatia masters away game
The veterans Coric and Cilic, who were able to seal the Davis Cup victory for Croatia in a heated away game in France in 2018, did not let the lively atmosphere unsettle them.
“I have quite a lot of experience with such matches. It was clear to me that the audience would root for it," explained Cilic.
“Between the points there were always cheers. It's not easy then to concentrate on the serve because sometimes there are long pauses between the first and second service. But overall it was okay.”
Croatia now meets Australia in the semifinals on Friday.