The United States could not have painted a more promising picture as the first day of Davis Cup play concluded on Friday. But Marin Cilic bounced back from a recent stretch of difficulty and Borna Coric would win the deciding match to lead Croatia to the semifinals.

Cilic entered the Davis Cup tie in Portland with the stinging loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon still fresh. In an epic quarterfinal match in London, he watched his two-set lead slip away in dramatic fashion. And in the first rubber on Friday, it was déjà vu as Jack Sock mounted a comeback after dropping the first two sets.

The Americans gained a huge advantage when John Isner rolled past Coric, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the second rubber, as play moved to Saturday.

In the past, the Bryan Brothers had been the x-factors for the United States in Davis Cup competition, with their dominance in doubles. But that was not the case in the third rubber after Croatian captain Zeljko Krajan inserted Cilic into doubles play in lieu of Marin Draganja. Led by the world no. 12 and doubles specialist Ivan Dodig, the Croats defeated Mike and Bob Bryan 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

This result set up a dramatic Sunday when play resumed. Cilic dismissed any chance of a dramatic comeback in the fourth rubber, dispatching Isner in straight sets 7-6 (11-9), 6-3, 6-4.  In the first set, the 27-year old survived an assault from Isner’s powerful serve to force a tiebreak. And after the compelling tiebreaker, Cilic found just enough daylight in the big American’s first strike and successfully protected his service games to win in straight sets.

A disappointed Isner gave credit to his opponent afterward, “The first set was critical. Felt like I definitely was the better player in the first set. Didn't get paid off, but that's on me. He came up with the goods when he needed it. That gave him a lot of confidence, I think,” he said.

In the deciding fifth rubber, Coric gained control against Sock after the two players split the first two sets. He would capitalize on some loose backhands and gained some success against the big-serving American. He broke Sock’s serve four times in the final two sets and took the match, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The weight of the situation did not affect Coric who stated afterward, “I have to be honest. I like that kind of situation.”

Croatia will advance to the semifinals where they will face France when Davis Cup play resumes in September. Meanwhile, Great Britain and Argentina will meet in the other semifinal. Croatia won its lone Davis Cup title in 2005.