MADRID (Reuters) - Croatia reached the Davis Cup final after Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic beat Novak Djokovic and Filip Krajinovic 7-5 6-1 in a decisive doubles clash to give the competition’s twice former winners a 2-1 win over Serbia on Friday.
Borna Gojo fired Croatia ahead with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 win over Dusan Lajovic in the opening rubber before Djokovic redressed the balance as he brushed aside Marin Cilic 6-4 6-2.
Krajinovic’s late inclusion in the crunch encounter was a surprise move by Serbia’s team captain Viktor Troicki, who left out the team’s only doubles specialist Nikola Cacic.
The Serbians held their own against the world number one pairing of Mektic and Pavic early on but Krajinovic faltered in the final game of the opening set, as he dropped serve when Mektic rifled a forehand down the middle.
The superior movement and volleying of Mektic and Pavic made the difference as their class showed in the second set, with the Serbian duo fizzling out after a bright start.