Thousands of Croatians gathered in Zagreb’s main square yesterday to embrace their returning Davis Cup team, who routed hosts France in the final to clinch the trophy for the second time.
“Croatia, Croatia!” chanted both the crowd and the players, led by world number seven Marin Cilic, who were standing on an improvised stage in Ban Jelacic square.
The players boarded a special bus straight from the airport, drove into the heart of the capital and climbed onto a stage in Ban Jelacic Square to greet thousands of Croats who danced and cheered them.
Behind them a giant screen replayed their matches from the Davis Cup final in Lille, France.
“We are delighted to become world champions and bring this trophy to Croatia,” Cilic told the crowd, many of whom were wrapped in Croatia’s red-and-white chequered flags.
The victory has been celebrated as a sweet revenge for Croatia’s loss to France in the World Cup final in July.
It is the second time the Balkan nation of 4.2 million has won the Davis Cup, the first time being in 2005.
Cilic, 30, secured the 3-1 victory by beating Lucas Pouille on Sunday and giving his country an unassailable lead.
Yesterday the Croatian press crowned it a “miraculous year” for the country’s athletes.
“Happy and proud again!” read the headline on the daily Vecernji List.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who attended the event in Lille, is expected to decorate the players with medals later.
Earlier Croatia captain Zeljko Krajan hailed his “dream team” after Marin Cilic sealed a second Davis Cup title for the Balkan nation by beating France’s Lucas Pouille on Sunday.
“This is the one of the best teams we’ve ever had – it’s like a dream team,” Krajan said.
“After seven years on the bench (as captain) it’s an honour for me to be here.
“My singles players not only didn’t lose a set, they didn’t lose serve in three matches which is an unbelievable achievement and shows you the quality that we produced.”
Victory was especially sweet for Cilic who had bitter memories of the 2016 final against Argentina to banish.
Noah launches attack on Davis Cup revamp
Yannick Noah launched an impassioned attack on the imminent Davis Cup revamp after his third spell as France captain ended in defeat in the final by Croatia on Sunday.
Shortly after 24-year-old Lucas Pouille, whose defeat by Marin Cilic sealed France’s fate, said he was quitting the Davis Cup, Noah said the competition was disappearing in all but name.
“When people tell us it’s still going to be the Davis Cup, they are lying. I will tell them ‘you are liars’,” an emotional Noah told reporters.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has decided that from 2019, apart from February’s qualifying round, ‘home’ ties will be scrapped and the current World Group knockout format replaced by an 18-nation, one-week event to be staged in Madrid.
Best-of-five-set matches will also change to best-of-three.
The makeover is being backed to the tune of $3 billion over 25 years by Spanish investment firm Kosmos – a deal the ITF says will pump much-needed money into national federations.
Noah, who led France to Davis Cup glory in 1991 and 1996 in his first two spells as captain and again last year, said occasions like Sunday, when 22,000 fans produced an incredible atmosphere inside Lille’s Stade Pierre Mauroy, would be consigned to history.
“We talk about money but how much is it worth for the ballboy, who is from here, to shake the hand of Lucas Pouille and have a picture with him?” Noah told reporters.