Davis Cup: "You've Got to Show Some Balls and Go For It," Rinderknech Ready to Challenge Cilic
The Davis Cup tie between Croatia and France will feature Arthur Rinderknech against Marin Cilic. The latter, despite his experience and impressive track record, will face a determined Rinderknech eager to shine.
Between respect and challenge, the Frenchman shares his thoughts on pressure and expectations. This Friday marks the first day of the Davis Cup qualifying tie in Osijek between Croatia and France.
Starting at 4 p.m., the first match will pit Corentin Moutet against Dino Prizmic, followed by the duel between Arthur Rinderknech and Marin Cilic. A marquee match for Rinderknech against a former Grand Slam winner (2014 US Open) who is now ranked 60th in the world at nearly 37 years old.
The two have already faced each other twice on the main tour, with one win each: at Roland Garros in 2021 for Cilic and in Basel in 2022 for Rinderknech. The Frenchman discussed his upcoming match against the former world No. 3 just hours before stepping onto the Croatian indoor clay court with the media outlet L'Équipe.
"I'm convinced that in these tight moments, you've got to show some balls and go for it. Potentially, that's what we've lacked at times in recent years in the Davis Cup. To put it more politely, you have to go for it when it's needed, without hesitation.
Now, for this second round, there's a return to a true Davis Cup tie with a best-of-five format. That's very enjoyable. With a hostile crowd against us, but that's also what we love. The tie will be complicated, obviously. On paper, it's very balanced.
Cilic is one of my favorite players. I really enjoy watching him play. He's a guy who doesn't make a lot of noise but is a huge champion. We mustn't forget that he has won a Grand Slam, reached finals, and made a semifinal at Roland Garros.
His record is immense. Every time he plays, he's extremely competitive and hard to beat. His attitude is exceptional. When I talked about going for it, he's the typical case: he doesn't flinch. He goes for it—that's the mark of champions," Rinderknech stated.
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