Croatia beats Japan 3-2 in the first round – Davis Cup WG 2012
Croatians reached the quarterfinals, as they defeated Japan 3-2 in the first round tie of the Davis Cup World Group at the hard courts of Bourbon Beans Dome in Hyogo, Japan on Sunday.
Ivo Karlovic was the hero for Croatians, as he won all of his three matches during the tie. He defeated Japanese number 2, Go Soeda, in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-4, in the fifth rubber.
The 6ft 10in tall, Karlovic, served brilliantly during the final match. Such was his dominance on serve that he didn’t lose a single service game throughout the match.
The Croat and Soeda held their serves throughout the opening set and squared off the score at 6-6, forcing a tie-breaker round. Karlovic needed a single mini-break in the decider to win it 7-4.
The right-hander, Karlovic, broke Soeda in the fourth game of the second set. He held his serve in the next game to take a 4-1 lead. Soeda was broken again in the sixth game and was unable to break back, losing the set 1-6.
After getting a lead of two sets to love, Karlovic came out roaring in the third one. The Croat broke his opponent in the very first game and won his next serve to capture a 2-0 lead. Karlovic capitalised on the single break of
serve to seal the set 6-4.
Previously, Kei Nishikori of Japan sailed past the Croatian, Ivan Dodig, in straight sets 7-5 7-6(4) 6-3 in the fourth rubber.
Nishikori did not start well, as he lost first three games of the opening set to trail 0-3. However, the Japanese number 2 bounced back in the final stages of the set. Nishikori won last four games; breaking Dodig in the ninth
and 11th to won the first set 7-5.
The Japanese drew the first blood in the second set. He broke Dodig in the opening game and capitalised on it to go up 2-0. Dodig broke back in the fourth game to tie the score at 2-2. Nishikori and Dodig held their serves in the
next eight games, levelling the score at 6-6 and taking the set to a tie-break. The Japanese hit a forehand winner to earn a mini-break and capitalised on it to win the tie-break 7-4.
In the third set, Nishikori broke Dodig in the ninth game and served out the set in the tenth, claiming it 6-4.
Croatia is drawn to take on Argentina in the second round. The Argentineans outclassed Germany 4-1 in the first round.
Tags: