Newbie Delic beats Sijsling
Even though The Netherlands started this Davis Cup duel a little relieved as US-open champion Marin Cilic would not play on the first day, the Dutch team lost their opening match. Mate Delic  (154) turned out to be too good for Igor Sijsling (72). While Igor took the lead, winning the first set, he still lost the match in his hometown with 64 46 57 and 26. Sijsling looks back at the match with mixed feelings: “I did everything I could, but I still let the team down by not winning this important point. I felt quite some pressure and tension before the match. I did not sleep or eat well. As the match continued, it became physically very tough. Though I felt that I really had to win this match, Delic was overall the better player.”  Do you understand that some people would like you to be more outgoing on court? “Yes, I understand, but I’m not busy with that during a match. Being outgoing and interacting with the audiences also costs extra energy and for me this behaviour would be fake. I’m just not like that. I hope that I can entertain the crowd with my game and not with my behaviour.” The victory of Delic was a little unexpected: It was the first time I played a Davis Cup match and my first best-of-five match ever. I felt a lot of pressure before and during the match. Though I am physically in shape I got cramps in my arms and legs in the third and fourth set. It must have been the tension,” tells an exhausted and happy Delic. “From the end of the third set on I went up-and-up and Sijsling just went physically and mentally down. I served well, played on his backhand and waited for my chances which I took. I’m feeling really happy and to experience the support of the Croatian Davis Cup team is great”, tells the player who gave Croatia a 1-0 lead.