Mario Ancic chose a dramatic moment to win a crucial Davis Cup match -- the one that clinched the title for Croatia.
Ancic beat Michal Mertinak in the finale of the best-of-five series, 7-6 (1), 6-3, 6-4, to give Croatia its first Davis Cup with a 3-2 win over Slovakia.
Ancic has languished in the shadow of doubles partner Ivan Ljubicic and the country's veteran sports idol, Goran Ivanisevic, who came out of retirement for the final.
Although unbeaten in doubles, Ancic's only singles win in the Davis Cup this season came in a meaningless match against Romania after Croatia already had advanced to the semifinals.
But this one was destined to atone.
"It's an unforgettable match and an unforgettable day," Ancic said. "I am not sure people realize how big it is to be at the top of the pyramid."
Croatia became the 12th different nation to win the title in the competition's 105-year history.
Croatia's Nikki Pilic became the first captain to win the trophy for different nations. He led Germany to Davis Cup titles in 1988, 1989 and 1993.
"There is no comparison. Today I won with my people," Pilic said at the victory ceremony. "The Davis Cup is one of the greatest competitions in the world and I am really proud of my team."
Lifting one of the most prized trophies in sports was Croatia's biggest success in a team event since the country gained independence in 1991 during the violent break-up of Yugoslavia, eclipsing the soccer team's third-place finish at the 1998 World Cup.
Ivanisevic added the Davis Cup championship to his 2001 Wimbledon title.
He wasn't selected to play either the singles or doubles, but was a member of the four-man squad.
"I knew that we could do it. We are a brilliant team, which can play on all surfaces," Ivanisevic said. "We are at the top of Mt. Everest. This is the pinnacle."
Ivanisevic's Wimbledon title and Janica Kostelic's four Olympic ski medals, including three gold, at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, remain the young country's top individual achievements in sports.
Ivanisevic has been the mentor of Ancic, who also hails from the Dalmatian port city Split, which is the home town of Pilic as well.
Ancic, known as ``Baby Goran'' for his physical similarity to Ivanisevic and his powerful serve, thanked his mentor, saying his presence was inspirational and his help as practice partner kept the team optimally fit and prepared.
"He is a great rock of support for us all," he said.
Ancic never won a match that counted this year in Davis Cup, but he took the biggest one of them all. Ranked No. 22 by the ATP, he simply overwhelmed the 165th-ranked Mertinak, who has played mostly challenger events all year and who is primarily a doubles specialist.
Slovakia was without its No. 2, Karol Beck, who was nominated but withdrawn Friday after aggravating a left-knee injury. He has denied unconfirmed reports of failing a doping test after the semifinal win over Argentina.
The dramtic final-match showdown was created when Dominik Hrbaty, ranked 19th, ended Ljubicic's unbeaten run in Davis Cup play this year in the first reverse singles, beating the Croat for the first time in six career meetings 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Ljubicic failed to equal John McEnroe's 1982 record of 12 Davis Cup wins in a single year -- eight singles and four doubles. Ljubicic finished the year 11-1.
"I woke up with a completely blocked neck and we worked on it all morning. I didn't know if I would play or not," Ljubicic said. "It was probably the most difficult decision I had to make in my career -- to play or not."
Ljubicic said he had to vomit when he left the court during the third set because he felt ill after taking painkillers. He also said he had trouble concentrating during the match.
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