LONDON, 26 September 2005 — Croatia and Slovakia scored historic Davis Cup victories over powerful opposition yesterday, both reaching the final of the men’s international tennis event for the first time.
Ivan Ljubicic provided the heroics for Croatia who finished off Russia in Split while Dominik Hrbaty was the toast of Bratislava after downing Guillermo Coria to end Argentina’s hopes.
Slovakia will host December’s final for which Croatia’s former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic will come out of retirement. Ljubicic sparked wild celebrations in Split’s packed Gripe Sports Hall by pummelling Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 7-6, 6-4.
“I always thought my Olympic bronze medal was the highlight of my career,” said Ljubicic, who achieved that feat last year in the doubles with Mario Ancic in Athens. “But this is even better.” Croatia captain Niki Pilic can now look forward to a fourth final against Slovakia, after steering Germany to three Davis Cup crowns.
“Ljubicic has shown this weekend that he is world class,” said Pilic, after dancing around court with Ivanisevic and the rest of the team.
In Bratislava Hrbaty also put in a world-class performance to snuff out Coria’s chances 7-6, 6-2, 6-3 and spark similar crowd scenes.
“It was the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in,” smiled Hrbaty on court after his win. “All the people were cheering for me, and I didn’t want to disappoint them.
“I played really well right up to the last point, and I’m really happy for my team mates and all the people... I’ll always remember the atmosphere.
“It’s the biggest moment in the history of Slovak men’s tennis... unbelievable,” Hrbaty said. Last year’s champions Spain and the United States — winners of a record 31 Davis Cup titles — also had something to cheer yesterday when they retained their elite 16-nation World Group status for next season. Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero swept aside Daniele Bracciali 6-3 6-0 6-3 to secure a 3-2 win and condemn Italy to a sixth season outside the top flight.
Ferrero’s victory in the fifth rubber saved Spain from becoming only the third team in the World Group’s 24-year history to be relegated the year after winning the title.
France went down in 1998 and Sweden, winners in 1999, were relegated in 2000.
Andy Roddick came to the United States’ rescue, winning a five-set match on clay for only the second time in his career to beat Olivier Rochus 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 and give the visitors an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Belgium.
Roddick’s win ended a three-match losing streak in five-setters on clay.
Switzerland finished off a sorry Britain 5-0 in Geneva with two wins in dead rubbers. George Bastl took just 53 minutes to dismantle David Sherwood’s game 6-3, 6-0 and Stanislas Wawrinka beat Alan Mackin 7-5, 7-6. The Swiss clean sweep marked Britain’s heaviest defeat since they lost 5-0 to the Slovak Republic in April 1995.
The left-handed Ivanisevic, who quit in 2003 because of a nagging shoulder injury, will take on compatriot Sasa Tuksar for a place in the final squad, Croatia’s captain Niki Pilic said after yesterday’s semifinal victory over Russia.
“I’m telling everyone now for the first time that there will be a one-off match between Goran and Sasa at my club in Munich,” Pilic told reporters.
