The question of whether Marin Čilić will participate in the Davis Cup duel with Spain in early February next year remains up in the air.
Spanish Tennis Federation has announced that the Spanish men's team will perform with their best tennis players, led by Rafael Nadal, in the 1st round match of the World Group Davis Cup against Croatia. The tournament will take place in Osijek from 3 to 5 February 2017, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on 21 December 2016.
According to the announcement from Madrid, Rafael Nadal (9th), Roberto Bautista (12th) and David Ferrer (21st) will perform for Spain in Osijek.
Croatia’s best tennis player, Marin Čilić, at a press conference in Zagreb said that he will make a decision on playing in Davis Cup after the end of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, the Australian Open. The excitement in Melbourne ends on 29 January 2017, and the clash against the Spaniards in Osijek is scheduled for the weekend after, 3 to 5 February.
Čilić said that he will wait and see how he feels after Australia, primarily in the physical sense. He admits that while reflecting on the past six months, he wants to be sure that he is maximally prepared - not only for Davis Cup, but also for his own well being.
Therefore, Čilić will wait until the last minute before making a final decision on his participation in Davis Cup. If, for instance, Čilić makes it to the semifinals or further in Melbourne, then the cancellation of his arrival in Osijek is a probable option.
Marin, who holds the best ranking of his career (6th place), begins a new season at the Chennai Open tournament in India which he won in 2009 and 2010.
“I expect to enter the top five tennis players in the world. This is a real opportunity to step forward. The last six months have given me the confidence to continue in this rhythm,” concluded Čilić.
