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Post by Les on Sept 24, 2004 19:40:15 GMT
Croatia - Belgium 2:0 (first day)
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Post by SophieL on Sept 24, 2004 19:46:17 GMT
Ancic Gives Croatia 2-0 Lead
Croatia took a commanding 2-0 lead against Belgium on the opening day of their Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, World Group Play-off tie in Rijeka.
Ivan Ljubicic won the opening match in three sets, defeating Gilles Elseneer 76(6) 75 64 in two hours and 40 minutes whilst Mario Ancic followed with a three setter against Belgian number one, Olivier Rochus, 63 76(2) 61; a match which saw the execution of 30 aces.
For Ancic, it was sweet revenge as he lost to Rochus in three sets, at the US Open, after which Ancic admitted that "he played great. Rochus gave me a lesson".
Ivan Ljubicic was very optimistic after he won the opening match, "not many people can beat Mario on this surface".
It was tough going for Rochus from the word go. He dropped serve to go down 2-0 at the beginning of the match and the second set looked to be going the same way at 4-2 until Ancic served up two double faults. With Rochus, executing two great backhand returns, he was able to claim his first and only break of the match.
This proved to be only a minor blip for Ancic who went onto serve out a great tie-break and cruise through the third set, dropping only one game.
Goran Ivanisevic, retired Wimbledon champion, now serving as an assistant to Davis Cup Captain, Niki Pilic was confident of the outcome. Shortly after the draw on Thursday, Goran offered little hope to the Belgians.
"You never know in tennis, but this is not going to be a shocking day for
Croatia. We have a better team, Ivan and Mario are playing great, the surface is
perfect, especially for Mario. Ivan and Mario will win. Croatia will win".
Ancic was very happy with his game. "I was not ready at the US Open, now it's much better. I worked on my serve, played more aggressive. This is a different surface, better for me. I knew Olivier will have more problems. I made life difficult dropping serve in the second set but came back s. to win the tie-break".
Olivier Rochus had no regrets. "Mario played fantastic. His serve was brilliant. Ancic was the dominant player. Our chances? You have to believe, but it's not more than one percent".
Captain Steven Martens did not agree, "every time you step on court there
is a 50% chance of winning. It's not over yet".
Nikki Pilic is the first to agree on this. "Two zero has never won a Davis cup tie. But we like our chances".
The Croatian pairing of Ancic and Ljubicic, winners of the bronze medal in Athens will be looking to wrap up the tie on Saturday when they take on the Belgian pair of Kristof Vliegen and thingy Norman.
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Post by LesT on Sept 27, 2004 16:40:25 GMT
Goran sets sights on Davis Cup
27/09/2004 14:30 - (SA)
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Wait worth it for Ivanisevic
Rijeka, Croatia - Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic may have retired from tennis but he insists he can still lead Croatia to Davis Cup glory.
Ivanisevic, who retired after his All England Club swansong this summer, is now number two to Croatian Davis Cup captain Nici Pilic and was closely involved in his country's 3-2 win against Belgium here at the weekend which gave Croatia a place in the Davis Cup World Group for 2005.
It will be the fourth time in a row, and fifth in total, that Croatia have been in the World Group and Ivanisevic is optimistic about his team's long term chances.
"I have said all along that this team has great potential. At home, we can beat the best," said Ivanisevic.
"We showed we can beat the best. Away Croatia will always be tough. I know it may look strange to some but I feel this team with Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic can go all the way some day and win the Davis Cup."
Croatia had already taken an unbeatable 3-0 lead over Belgium going into Sunday's reverse singles and they eventually won 3-2.
The dead rubbers went Belgium's way when Olivier Rochus beat Sasa Tuksar 4-6 6-3 6-3 while Ancic retired with a back injury at the beginning of the second set of his match against Gilles Elseneer which he was leading 7-6 (7/4) 2-1.
Pilic said he will stay on as captain for at least one more year despite being happy to step aside for Ivanisevic who is now content to bide his time.
"One or two more years and that's it. If he does not want to take my place by 2007, I will personally take him by the hand, and make him do it," said Pilic.
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Post by Tomas on Sept 27, 2004 16:42:18 GMT
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Post by Tomas on Oct 1, 2004 10:02:08 GMT
Davis cup: next match against the USA in America (4-6 March, 2005)
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Post by SusieQ on Oct 3, 2004 15:33:28 GMT
Old news?
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