Serbia, with cannibal Novak Djokovic up front, you will have to sweat blood if you want to be in the Davis Cup final. The first point of the semifinal duel fell on the side of Croatia and now number one will have to multiply to defeat Marin Cilic (17-2) and then participate in a Doubles forced to defeat Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic, the best couple in the ATP ranking. That, because of Borna Gojo’s victory over Dusan Lajovic in the first point of the series: 4-6, 6-3 and 6-2 in 1h: 58.
Davis thrives on stories of heroes. Like Gojo’s, a 23-year-old tennis player and 279th in the world, habitual of the challengers, the second division of tennis, which has been transformed into a very dangerous tennis player dressed in the red elastic of Croatia. He had just defeated the Australian Alexei Popyrin (61st) and the Italian Lorenzo Sonego (27th) in the quarterfinals, his first wins over the top-100. AND He also managed to stop Lajovic, a tennis player who was completing his twentieth game at Davis (11-9 on balance), with the poise of his 31 years and the 33rd place in the ranking.
Gojo started the first set with a break (2-0), but the Serbian overcame him to endorse two breaks and take the first set. Everything seemed to indicate that the beautiful story of Gojo was going to have an end. But the Croatian struggled, determined not to let go of the revelation player tag. From its 1.96 m. handled the serve well (77% of points won with firsts)He endured when Lajovic made a counterbreak in the second to achieve another break and in the third he finished off, cold in a hot duel between neighbors not always well agreed.
With his compatriot Luka Modric, Madrid’s metronome, in the stands, Gojo finished handing out punches and put his hand to his face, incredulous at what he had just starred in. But it is real. Djokovic and Serbia will have to suffer.