Cilic upbeat ahead of Davis Cup final

Marin Cilic said that playing against some of the top players in the world at the ATP Finals had given him a boost ahead of next week's Davis Cup final against France.

The Croatian crashed out of the tournament at London's 02 Arena in the group stage, winning one of his three round-robin matches against John Isner.

But the world number seven said he would approach the Davis Cup final, being held on clay courts in the northern French city of Lille, in good heart.

"Just playing against top guys just maybe lifts your level a bit, focus-wise," he said Friday after his 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 defeat against world number one Novak Djokovic.

"Playing-wise, you have to play every single point on a high level. I feel that might help me."