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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Croatia holds edge after Americans fall in doubles


Croatia's Mario Ancic looks at teammate Ivan Ljubicic and celebrates after they defeated Americans Bob and Mike Bryan in the Davis Cup. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

CARSON, Calif. – Twins Mike and Bob Bryan lost a doubles match for the first time in Davis Cup play Saturday and Croatia took the lead against the favored United States.

Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic defeated the Bryans 3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4, 6-4 for Croatia’s second win in three matches in the best-of-5 first round.

The Bryans were 5-0 in Davis Cup going in against Ljubicic and Ancic, bronze medalists in the 2004 Olympics and playing Davis Cup doubles together for the second time.

Down 2-1, the Americans’ hopes rest with Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi and their remaining singles matches.

Roddick plays Ljubicic in today’s first match, then Agassi will face Ancic in the fifth and final match – if the Croatians haven’t clinched by then.

Croatia ousted the United States in the opening round of the 2003 Cup play, the only previous meeting between the two countries. Ljubicic won both his singles matches and teamed for a doubles victory in that competition in Zagreb.

America hasn’t won the Davis Cup since 1995, the country’s longest drought in 68 years.

Ljubicic, a finalist in four tour events already this year, made the difference in the doubles victory. Along with his booming serve, often in the high 130-mph range, he slashed shots down the lines and showed a deft touch at the net.

After winning the first set, the Bryans seemed to be back on their heels much of the rest of the match against the two talented singles players.

Ljubicic served 13 aces – including three in a row for a 5-3 lead in the fourth set – and Ancic had eight. The Bryans combined had eight.

A day earlier, Roddick defeated Ancic 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 after Ljubicic opened the three days of matches by downing Agassi in straight sets.

Agassi, who turns 35 next month, is playing Davis Cup for the first time in five years. Ljubicic’s 6-3, 7-6 (0), 6-3 win over him was only Agassi’s sixth loss in 36 Davis Cup matches.

If Agassi does play Ancic in the final match of the round, he will be spotting the Croatian a few years – Ancic, 20, was a toddler when Agassi first played Davis Cup in 1988.

In other Davis Cup play:

At Bratislava, Slovakia, defending champion Spain was eliminated when Slovakia took an insurmountable 3-0 lead with a doubles victory.

At Buenos Aires, Argentina, David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas edged Tomas Zib and Jan Hernych 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to give Argentina a spot in the quarterfinals after a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic. Argentina will next face Australia.

At Sydney, Australia, Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge beat Alexander Peya and Julian Knowle, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to put Australia into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Austria.

At Brasov, Romania, Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov teamed up to beat Andrei Pavel and Gabriel Trifu 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4 to give Belarus a 2-1 lead over Romania.

At Moscow, Marat Safin and Mikhail Youzhny beat Fernando Gonzalez and Adrian Garcia 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to put Russia ahead of Chile 2-1.

At Strasbourg, France, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra beat Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4 to give France a 2-1 lead over Sweden.

At Fribourg, Switzerland, Yves Allegro and George Bastl fought off three match points to beat Dennis Van Scheppingen and Peter Wessels 5-7, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, 9-7 and keep Switzerland alive. Netherlands leads 2-1.