Croatia vs Argentina Davis Cup Tennis Final: Online Betting Preview
Croatia take on Argentina is the final of Davis Cup over the next three days at the indoor hard court of Arena Zagreb, in Zagreb, Croatia. History could be a big influential factor in online betting.
In Davis Cup finals, Argentina are quite like South Africa in cricket. They choke at the finals. They have entered four finals – 1981, 2006, 2008 and 2011 – and lost all four. Croatia, on the other hand, have reached only one final and won that. Croatia lifted the Davis Cup in 2005, beating Slovakia in the final. The schedule is as follows:
Match 1: Marin Cilic (Croatia) vs Federico Delbonis (Argentina)
Match 2: Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) vs Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)
Match 3: Ivan Dodig and Franko Skugor (Croatia) vs Leonardo Mayer and Guido Pella (Argentina)
Match 4: Marin Cilic (Croatia) vs Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)
Match 5: Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) vs Federico Delbonis (Argentina)
Preview – Croatia
Croatia have many advantages going for them. They will be playing in the familiar environs of home, in front of what could be a raucous crowd. Their players are seeded above the Argentine players too. Cilic is ranked six in the ATP rankings. Karlovic, who is still going strong amazingly at the ripe age of 37, is ranked 20. In contrast, Argentina’s del Potro is ranked 38 (as he is coming back from a long injury-forced lay-off) and Delbonis is ranked 41.
Croatia will fancy their chances in both the matches against Delbonis. They would expect Karlovic to lose against del Potro. But they will back Cilic, on current form, to tame del Potro. And doubles is always a strong forte of the Balkans. No wonder even del Potro conceded that Croatia are the favourites. His words offer enough clues for online betting: “Croatia has a very strong team, but we are looking forward to a very good weekend. They are playing at home on a favorite surface.”
Preview – Argentina
The heartbreak of the last four occasions would be motivation enough for Argentina. Moreover, football legend Diego Maradona is expected to come to Zagreb to cheer the team. Davis Cup fixtures often make a mockery of seeding. The fact that they are playing for the country often propels the lower-ranked players to play well above their normal potential. Argentina would hope for such surge of nationalism during these days.
Prediction
Croatia are the favourites. But do not count Argentina out for online betting.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
