ATP News : 2005


Croatia and Slovak Republic close in on Davis Cup final

Both countries lead 2-1 against Russia and Argentina in the semifinals.


Croatia and the Slovak Republic are just one rubber away from qualifying for their first-ever Davis Cup final after winning Saturday's doubles to take a 2-1 lead into the reverse singles.

Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic needed three hours and 37 minutes to outgun the Russian pair of Igor Andreev and Dimitry Tursonov 6-2, 4- 6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-4.

The Croatian players made the best of their strong serve as they served 13 aces and won more than three quarters of the points on their first serve.

On Friday, Russian world number seven Nikolay Davydenko outclassed Ancic 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, to put the Russians one up, but Ljubicic brought the home side back with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory against Mikhail Youzhny.

In Bratislava Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak gave the capacity crowd plenty to cheer about as they won a tightly contested rubber against former Grand Slam finalists David Nalbandian and Mariano Puerta 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).

On Friday, Beck had given the home side the lead after a three-set victory against Guillermo Coria, but Nalbandian had equalised by beating Dominik Hrbaty 3-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3.

Both Croatia and the Slovaks need to win only one of the two reverse singles on Sunday to qualify for their first-ever Davis Cup final.



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