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Davis Cup Final: Juan del Potro beats Ivo Karlovic

Saturday, 26 November 2016 6:17 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 26 November 2016 6:19 AM ]

Argentina's tennis player Joan Martin del Potro returns the ball against Croatia's tennis player Ivo Karlovic during the Davis Cup World Group final singles match between Croatia and Argentina at the Arena hall in Zagreb, on November 25, 2016. (AFP)

Juan Martin del Potro beats Ivo Karlovic in four sets to ensure Argentina ended the opening day singles of the Davis Cup Final at a 1-all draw with Croatia in Zagreb on Friday.

After Marin Cilic beat Federico Delbonis in the opening rubber on Friday, Argentina needed Juan Martin del Potro to put the South Americans back on level terms.

The 37-year-old Ivo Karlovic was looking to become the oldest man to win a Davis Cup Final singles rubber since 1912, but del Potro broke his normally impenetrable serve in the very first game and took the first set 6-4.

Backed by the home crowd, the Croatian took the second set 7-6. But it was del Potro who broke in the third set to lead 5-3 and he served out to take it 6-3 to receive the support of an excited Diego Maradona.

The fourth set looked to be heading for another tiebreak, but world number 38 held his serve to win 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 in three hours and 19 minutes to square the tie at one-all between Argentina and Croatia.

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