Print

Mail

wiki links

Croatia basks in tennis glory after knocking US out

Few expected it after the retirement of Goran Ivanisevic, but Croats were bathing in tennis glory yet again on Monday after the country beat the US to advance to the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup.

Some awoke to the news, others never even went to bed, but by midday ton-gues were flapping and radio waves were cluttered with the news.

Ivan Ljubicic mastered Andy Roddick in a marathon five-setter to give underdog Croatia an unassailable 3-1 lead on foreign turf and against the most successful Davis Cup outfit in history.

The match was broadcast live on national television and radio. Many stayed up past 4am local time to watch the four-hour battle.

"It's amazing, it's just amazing," Dominik Dolancic, a part-time student said.

"I wanted to go to sleep several times thinking it was over, we've lost it, but I knew I couldn't sleep even if I tried, so I stayed up. I'm so happy I did as I would have missed something big, something really unforgettable," he said.

Although the key match finished well beyond the time most papers are put to bed, the leading Sports daily, Sportske Novosti, splashed its front page with a giant-sized picture of Ljubicic throwing his arms in the air in delight.

"Bigger than America!" was the headline and "Triumph over the USA," was another.

The US went to special efforts to win the tie against Croatia, which surprised the Americans in their last encounter two years ago, albeit with a severely depleted side, devoid of any big names.

Andre Agassi, 34, was enticed out of retirement, Andy Roddick was back from injury and the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, were in top form, having not lost in the Davis Cup in six matches.

The US, which lost to Spain in the finals last year, has won the Cup 31 times, but hasn't taken it since 1995.

Ljubicic, who has already played in four ATP finals this season, almost single-handedly decided the fixture on Sunday.

He swept past Agassi in the opening match and merged with rising youngster Mario Ancic in the doubles to overcome the touted Bryans, before overcoming Roddick.

"I think all around the world, this is going to be big news because to beat Andre, [the] Bryans and Roddick in three days, I think it's a great effort," Ljubicic said.

Bob Bryan won the remaining reverse singles match -- a dead rubber -- against Roko Karanusic to make the final result 3-2.

France vs Russia

After surviving a weekend of drama and intrigue, France can look forward to a tantalising showdown with Russia in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.

With champions Spain and powerhouses the US losing at the first hurdle, France's tie against Russia looks the pick of the next round.

France had been expected to offer little resistance to the in-form Swedes because the nine-times champions were going through a slump in form.

In Paul-Henri Mathieu, however, France discovered a man on a mission to bury his Davis Cup demons and he did it in style to overcome Thomas Johansson in the deciding rubber in Strasbourg.

That exhilarating victory will allow Mathieu to settle another score when France travel to Russia for the July 15-17 tie in a repeat of the 2002 final.

French captain Guy Forget handed the then little-known Mathieu the responsibility of contesting the final.
This story has been viewed 2104 times.