2011 Davis Cup: Germany dumps Croatia to advance into quarterfinals
Germany defeated Croatia 3-2 to advance to the quarter-finals at the Davis Cup in Zagreb on Sunday.
German Philipp Petzschner dumped Croatian Ivo Karlovic in the deciding fifth tie in straight sets.
Both players displayed an awe-inspiring game of tennis and played in their top forms. But the German edge past Karlovic in the second and third set tiebreakers to lead Germany to the next round. The German plausible produced 56
winners and hammered 21 aces as compared to Kalovic’s 41 winners and 16 aces. He also earned more return points than the Croat.
"Petzschner played extremely good doubles on Saturday and hit some great returns on Karlovic' serve," Germany captain Patrik Kuhnen said.
The German was full charged up right from the beginning of the opening set. He broke the Croat’s server in the very first game through his massive forehands. He then held all of his remaining serves to win the first set convincingly
with a 6-4 score line. Despite having a lower first serve percentage of 62 percent as compared to Karlovic’s 70 percent, he registered an impressive 88 percent win on it.
Even though the German committed 2 double faults and had a lower first serve percentage in the second set, he punched 11 powerful aces and earned an amazing 86 percent win on his first serve. But he was only able to hold on to
his serves. The match went to tiebreaker as both played their best tennis but the Croatian only earned three points in it while the German clinched the set.
Petzschner kept his winning ways in the final set as well. He held his opening serve and broke Karlovic’s serve in the second game. The Croat quickly broke back and re-focused himself as he earned a higher first serve percentage.
In the rest of the match, both players held their serves spectacularly and took the set to tiebreaker. Petzschner prevailed in it and thus won the match.
"The feeling was great," Petzschner said. "I'm happy for myself and for the team. It was tough tie with tough matches."
Germany will next face France in the quarter-finals. France reached this spot after defeating Austria with a similar score line.
Frenchmen defeated the Austrians easily in the first two rounds but lost the doubles and the fourth round. World number 55, Jeremy Chardy defeated the Austrian Jurgen Melzer in straight sets in the first round. In the second round,
his compatriot world number 30, Gilles Simon destroyed Austrian Stefan Koubek with a bagel. Austria bounced back in the third round where the Austrian Pair, Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer overwhelmed Frenchmen, Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau. In the
fourth round Jurgen Melzer levelled the series by defeating French Gilles Simon in five sets. In the final round, French Jeremy Chardy triumphed over the Austrian Martin Fischer to win in four sets.
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