Argentina football legend Diego Maradona was courtside as Juan Martin del Potro beat veteran Ivo Karlovic to draw his country back level at 1-1 against Croatia in the Davis Cup final on Friday
Football legend Diego Maradona and his companion Rocio Oliva watch the Davis Cup singles match in Zagreb on Friday. Pic/AP/PTI
Football legend Diego Maradona and his companion Rocio Oliva watch the Davis Cup singles match in Zagreb on Friday. Pic/AP/PTI
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Zagreb (Croatia): Argentina football legend Diego Maradona was courtside as Juan Martin del Potro beat veteran Ivo Karlovic to draw his country back level at 1-1 against Croatia in the Davis Cup final on Friday.
Maradona, 56, who inspired Argentina to glory at the 1986 World Cup, watched on with his girlfriend as Croatia went 1-0 up when Marin Cilic battled back from a mid-match collapse to beat Federico Delbonis 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2 at the Zagreb Arena.
But in the second rubber Del Potro left the final all square when he despatched big-serving 37-year-old giant Karlovic 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 7-5.
It was a fine performance from the Olympic silver medallist, who had secured Argentina's appearance in their fifth final when seeing off Andy Murray — his Rio conqueror — in an epic five-setter against the defending champions Great Britain in the semi-final in Glasgow.
Del Potro, 28, is a veteran of two losing finals — both against Spain in 2008 and 2011 — while Karlovic is the oldest player to feature in a Davis Cup singles match since 43-year-old Australian Norman Brookes in 1920.
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