Cilic helps Croatia crush Australia in Davis Cup opener

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Croatia thrashed Australia 3-0 in their Davis Cup tie in Turin, with Borno Gojo and Marin Cilic doing the business in singles.

Gojo – the current world No 276 – beat Alexei Popyrin 7-6(5), 7-5 – saving all five of the break points he faced – while Cilic beat Alex de Minaur 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.

The 33-year-old holds all of Croatia’s Davis Cup records in singles – most wins in total, most singles wins, most ties played, and most years played.

And perhaps unsurprisingly Australian misery was compounded after the doubles, as world No 1 Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic paired up to defeat de Minaur and John Peers 6-3, 6-1.

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Australia play Hungary on Saturday in the next Group D tie; with a 0-3 record so far, a better string of results is essential if they are to progress.