but it was enough to blunt his charge be

ZADAR, Croatia -- Marin Cilic swatted aside Frenchman Richard Gasquet in straight sets on Sunday to send Croatia into the Davis Cup final for only the second time.The 2014 U.S. Open champion won 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 to give Croatia an unassailable 3-1 lead with one singles rubber left to play. Croatia lost that one but it made no difference.Croatia won its only final 11 years ago away to Slovakia and will play Argentina in the final.Cilic was Croatias inspiration at the Kresimir Cosic Hall in Zadar, winning both his singles and teaming up with Ivan Dodig on Saturday to stun top-ranked doubles pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.Gasquet had beaten the big-serving Cilic in two of their three career meetings, but was no competition this time.In the first set, Cilic broke Gasquet in the eighth game and then held to clinch the set, saving a break point at 30-40 down.He took command in the second set, securing consecutive breaks and holding for a 5-1 lead. He then held to love putting Croatia within touching distance of the final.Pinning Gasquet to the back of the court, Cilic broke him at the start of the third set.Although Gasquet broke back, Cilic broke him in the 11th game for 6-5 and clinched victory after following up a strong serve with a high volley.Cilic is 21-9 overall in singles and 7-6 in doubles.Marin Draganja replaced Borna Coric for the meaningless final rubber and lost 6-4, 6-4 to Lucas Pouille.Nine-time champion France played without Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who were both ruled out by knee problems. Swell Fles . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Swell Bottle Belgie . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. http://www.swellkopen.be/ . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. Swell Waterfles . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Swell Waterfles Kopen Andrew Dodt faced his challenges from Adam Scott and Ashley Hall on Saturday, but he held them off to retain the lead of the Australian PGA Championship at the end of the third round.Dodt is 14-under par for the tournament, two shots ahead of Hall and the USAs fast finishing Harold Varner III, who are in a tie for second at Royal Pines.Scott faded fast to be in a tie for fourth, four shots off the pace.But Saturday afternoon was all about the other Queenslander - Dodt.He struck three bogeys and five birdies in his two-under round, but he was no less consistent than those around him as heavy winds threaten to bring with them a late afternoon storm.Playing partner Hall faced the same struggles. He was faultless on the front nine, but bogied his last two holes to also be two under for the round.Varner then began to handle the conditions best. He hit eagles on the 15th and 17th, but bogeyed the 18th for a five-under round.For a moment too, Scott threatened to launch an all-out assault.After sinking a 10-metre putt to eagle the ninth, Scott went outright second and was just one shot off the lead.Then it all went pear-shaped for the world No.7.Dodt birdied the ninth to extend his lead and Hall eagled to retake second.In rresponse Scott found the water on the 10th, the trees on the 11th, the bunker on the 12th and then the water again on the 13th.ddddddddddddSomehow he escaped with just two bogeys from the horror run, but it was enough to blunt his charge before a late birdie helped him finish two under for the day.Hes now joined by the Australian veteran John Senden, perhaps the last of those still in contention after a consistent error-free round of four under.The same cant be said about New Zealander Ryan Foxs third round.After starting tied for third with Scott, he finished one over for the day after bogeying three of his first five holes.He remains sixth, but now seven shots off the lead.Englishman Steve Webster and Australian Sam Brazel earlier equalled the best round of the tournament with seven-under 65s.It shot them to equal sixth and 12th respectively, telling given Brazel was forced to watch the live scores of the last group on Friday evening from his hotel to see if he would made the cut at two over.Im stoked, Brazel said.I just let it go. Making the cut was nice and then freewheeled it today. ' ' '