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http://www.tsn.ca/tennis/news_story.asp?id=117444
CARSON, Calif. (AP) - The United States remains in a Davis Cup slump.
Ivan Ljubicic beat Andy Roddick in a taut, five-set marathon Sunday to give Croatia an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the opening-round Davis Cup matches.
Playing iron man for his country, Ljubicic outlasted Roddick 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11), 6-7 (7), 6-2 in a match that lasted almost four hours.
"It's tough to describe. Really, really bad," a dejected Roddick said. "There's no worse feeling than losing a match in Davis Cup in our sport, especially when your teammates are counting on you. There's so many people that you're playing for and that you feel like you've let down."
The final singles match was reduced to essentially an exhibition since Croatia had clinched the round. Andre Agassi was scheduled to play Mario Ancic, but doubles specialist Bob Bryan filled in for the United States and beat Roko Karanusic 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The 25-year-old Ljubicic began the round with a straight-set win over Agassi, then teamed with Ancic to hand Bryan and his twin brother, Mike, their first Davis Cup loss in six matches. Ljubicic also played and won three first-round matches in 2003 in Zagreb when Croatia eliminated the United States.
The Americans, who lost to Spain in the finals last year, have won the Cup 31 times, but haven't taken it since 1995. The drought is their longest in 68 years. The 34-year-old Agassi, who hadn't played for the United States since 2000, rejoined the team to try to help end the winless string, but lost to Ljubicic in Friday's opening singles. Roddick beat Ancic in four sets in their match the first day.
Both Roddick and Ljubicic played extremely well in what was an exciting match, with one of Roddick's serves hitting 244 km/h. But Ljubicic was able to punch back his opponent's powerful serves much of the match, setting up a string of lengthy rallies from the baseline. After winning the fourth-set tiebreaker, Roddick immediately lost his serve in the opening game of the fifth set. Ljubicic broke Roddick's serve again in the fifth game to take clear control.
Ljubicic, on a roll that has carried him to four tour finals this year, was proud to win for his country. "I think all around the world, this is going to be big news because to beat Andre, Bryans and Roddick in three days, I think it's a great effort," he said.
"I was thinking if I could just win one singles, just to keep up the momentum and just keep the confidence up. But I did it all the way, so it is just amazing." When Ljubicic finished it off with a service winner, the Croatian team locked arms and broke into an impromptu jig on the court.
Croatia seemed to have almost as many fans as the U.S. team in the lively, drum-banging and somewhat rowdy crowd of 6,584. Southern California is home to a large number of transplanted Croatians. Croatia moves on to the quarter-finals against Romania, which defeated Belarus in the first round.
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I'm loving it, moving to the next round doesnt mean that much, but the fact they beat the USA makes it so much sweeter. Great to see the Croats out in full force cheering them on. Hopefully they can defeat Romania in the next round.
CARSON, Calif. (AP) - The United States remains in a Davis Cup slump.
Ivan Ljubicic beat Andy Roddick in a taut, five-set marathon Sunday to give Croatia an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the opening-round Davis Cup matches.
Playing iron man for his country, Ljubicic outlasted Roddick 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11), 6-7 (7), 6-2 in a match that lasted almost four hours.
"It's tough to describe. Really, really bad," a dejected Roddick said. "There's no worse feeling than losing a match in Davis Cup in our sport, especially when your teammates are counting on you. There's so many people that you're playing for and that you feel like you've let down."
The final singles match was reduced to essentially an exhibition since Croatia had clinched the round. Andre Agassi was scheduled to play Mario Ancic, but doubles specialist Bob Bryan filled in for the United States and beat Roko Karanusic 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The 25-year-old Ljubicic began the round with a straight-set win over Agassi, then teamed with Ancic to hand Bryan and his twin brother, Mike, their first Davis Cup loss in six matches. Ljubicic also played and won three first-round matches in 2003 in Zagreb when Croatia eliminated the United States.
The Americans, who lost to Spain in the finals last year, have won the Cup 31 times, but haven't taken it since 1995. The drought is their longest in 68 years. The 34-year-old Agassi, who hadn't played for the United States since 2000, rejoined the team to try to help end the winless string, but lost to Ljubicic in Friday's opening singles. Roddick beat Ancic in four sets in their match the first day.
Both Roddick and Ljubicic played extremely well in what was an exciting match, with one of Roddick's serves hitting 244 km/h. But Ljubicic was able to punch back his opponent's powerful serves much of the match, setting up a string of lengthy rallies from the baseline. After winning the fourth-set tiebreaker, Roddick immediately lost his serve in the opening game of the fifth set. Ljubicic broke Roddick's serve again in the fifth game to take clear control.
Ljubicic, on a roll that has carried him to four tour finals this year, was proud to win for his country. "I think all around the world, this is going to be big news because to beat Andre, Bryans and Roddick in three days, I think it's a great effort," he said.
"I was thinking if I could just win one singles, just to keep up the momentum and just keep the confidence up. But I did it all the way, so it is just amazing." When Ljubicic finished it off with a service winner, the Croatian team locked arms and broke into an impromptu jig on the court.
Croatia seemed to have almost as many fans as the U.S. team in the lively, drum-banging and somewhat rowdy crowd of 6,584. Southern California is home to a large number of transplanted Croatians. Croatia moves on to the quarter-finals against Romania, which defeated Belarus in the first round.
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I'm loving it, moving to the next round doesnt mean that much, but the fact they beat the USA makes it so much sweeter. Great to see the Croats out in full force cheering them on. Hopefully they can defeat Romania in the next round.
