Croatia wins Davis Cup for the first time
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-05 09:19

There were no breaks in the final set until the last game.

Ljubicic needed to win the game to stay in the match. But Hrbaty then got the benefit of the doubt on a pair of close calls, Ljubicic netted a backhand and Hrbaty held a match point. A backhand winner down the line saved it for Ljubicic, but a backhand volley again put Hrbaty one shot away from winning. Ljubicic saved it, too, but then put a backhand into the net.

Hrbaty ripped off his shirt and tossed it into the Slovak half of the crowd of about 4,000 at Sibamac Arena. But it would not be long before Croatia's fans had their moment.

"We saw three days of world-class tennis, and in the end the better team won," Mecir said. "I congratulate Croatia."