Croatian aces may need to be patient to deny holders

Final
1pm Friday

The Davis Cup comes to the end of a fantastic era this weekend with the World Group final between France and Croatia - the last tie played before the tried-and-trusted format gets altered next year.

France are bidding to keep hold of the cup they won last November when they edged Belgium 3-2 in the trophy decider, but indivi­dually it has not been a good season for Yannick Noah's France team. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has missed much of the campaign due to injury and Gael Monfils and Lucas Pouille have been below their best.

It's a measure perhaps of the home side's desperation that they have included Tsonga, who has played pretty well since returning from injury, and opted to start with him in the singles in preference to Pouille, who has already questioned the decision to play the final on indoor red clay.

Jeremy Chardy is set to open for France against world number 12 Borna Coric, with Tsonga taking on Croatian number one Marin Cilic in the second singles rubber. Noah has said that Pouille may still be called on to compete in Sunday’s singles.

Croatia, Racing Post Sport's solitary recommendation for the cup before it started in early February, were just about back­able at 8-13 on Wednesday but following Pouille's early omission the away nation have been cut to 8-15, which makes little appeal.

Cilic did the business for Croatia the last time his country played France two years ago, so anyone looking for an interest on day one of the final may care to look at the opener in Lille.

Coric is making progress on all surfaces and won his first main-tour title on clay in Marrakech last year. But the 22-year-old may still find Chardy, who remains a capable performer on any terrain on his day, tough to overcome.

Coric should win but looks too short to back to win the rubber and it's no surprise to see that the match to last for over 3.5 sets is 4-7 from 4-6 with bet365.

Cilic's greater fitness should tell in his clash with Tsonga, but again the resurgent Frenchman is capable of making his opponent toil for victory so match-favourite backers should punt with caution.

Cilic and Ivan Dodig defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut in a close doubles encounter two years ago in Zadar and with another close pairs clash likely, the day one singles take on even greater importance.

Zeljko Krajan, Croatia's non-playing captain, will know all about that – and the fact that France won 4-1 when the nations played on indoor clay in France back in 2004. But while he will have stressed the importance of trying to forge an early lead, patience could be key for the Balkans aces, whose only cup triumph came in 2005.

Recommendation
J Chardy v B Coric over 3.5 sets
1pt 4-7 bet365

Already advised
Croatia
2pts 11-2 February 1

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