The Croatian coastal city of Zadar will host the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinal between Croatia and France on 16-18 September

Croatia will continue its bid for a second Davis Cup title in Zadar in September. The team’s semifinal tie with France will be played at the Krešimir Ćosić Hall.

The tie will be Croatia’s first at home since losing a World Group play-off to Great Britain in 2013. Zeljko Krajan’s team have played six consecutive away ties since then – and have won five of them, a 5-0 defeat to Serbia the only blip during that period.

This year, the Croatians have edged their way to two narrow victories, with Borna Coric winning decisive fifth rubbers against Kimmer Coppejans of Belgium in March’s first round and American Jack Sock in the quarterfinals last month.

They can expect an even more difficult task against France, whose strength in depth means that captain Yannick Noah can count on fielding a strong team. The French are looking to make a second final in three years, having lost to Switzerland in the 2014 final. They also lost to eventual champion Great Britain in the quarterfinals last year.

Comfortable wins against Canada and Czech Republic have brought the French team to the semifinals – and the team have dropped just one rubber all year, a surprise five-set defeat for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the hands of Lukas Rosol in the quarterfinal in July.

While Croatia have undoubtedly got a talented team – and passionate home support – to call on, the French should start the tie as slight favourites. France were the victors on the only previous occasion that the teams have met, a 2004 World Group first round clash in Metz.

For more information, visit http://www. daviscup.com/en/home.aspx.