Davis Cup Final: Croatia on the brink of victory

Croatia moved to within one victory of winning their first Davis Cup title here yesterday when Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic teamed up to beat the Slovakian duo Dominik Hrbaty and Michal Mertinak 7-6 6-3 7-6.

The scrappy doubles win put Croatia 2-1 ahead in the best-of-five final, and they will be crowned champions if either Ljubicic or Ancic win their reverse singles on Sunday in the Sibamac Arena.

After Friday's singles were split, the doubles rubber took on added importance for the two Central European nations, who are both appearing in their first final.

Slovakia had their chances, particularly in the first set when Mertinak served for it at 5-4, but they failed to seize the moment. The price was a heavy one as Ljubicic took control of a scrappy tie-break.

He banged down an ace to seal it 7-5, and from then on it was comfortable for the Croatian pair, who have never lost a Davis Cup doubles.

Hrbaty dropped serve twice in a one-sided second set and the Croatian pair, roared on by a vociferous army of travelling fans, held their nerve to edge the third in another tie-break.