Post by SAFINNO1 on Dec 1, 2005 20:18:49 GMT 3
Ljubicic to open Davis Cup final
Ivan Ljubicic will open Croatia's Davis Cup final campaign when he takes on Karol Beck of Slovakia in the opening singles rubber in Bratislava on Friday.
Mario Ancic has been named in the second singles and he will take on Slovak number one Dominik Hrbaty.
As expected, Goran Ivanisevic was left out of the side with Croatian skipper Niki Pilic instead picking Ljubicic and Ancic in the doubles.
Ivanisevic was brought into the squad despite retiring four years ago.
Although both sides are appearing in the Davis Cup final for the first time, Hrbaty insists the pressure will be on Croatia this week.
Croatia are considered favourites largely because of the Ljubicic's form.
Hrbaty, who has never beaten Ljubicic, said: "I saw on the ITF website that 80% of people say Croatia will win.
"It's not a plan, but I say Ljubicic is not Croatia, he is not the team, he is just one person."
Hrbaty is counting on home support to raise his game when it matters most.
"It's going to be tough, but we play at home, in front of the home crowd.
"At home we are always something like a dark horse, and we are going to prove it again and beat Croatia."
The final starts on Friday with two singles rubbers, continues on Saturday with the doubles and finishes on Sunday with two singles matches.
Both countries came through last year's play-offs to earn a place in the 2005 World Group.
Friday 2 December
Beck v Ljubicic (1300 GMT)
Hrbaty v Ancic
Saturday 3 December
Beck/Mertinak v Ancic/Ljubicic (1400 GMT)
Sunday 4 December
Hrbaty v Ljubicic (1300 GMT)
Beck v Ancic
Ivan Ljubicic will open Croatia's Davis Cup final campaign when he takes on Karol Beck of Slovakia in the opening singles rubber in Bratislava on Friday.
Mario Ancic has been named in the second singles and he will take on Slovak number one Dominik Hrbaty.
As expected, Goran Ivanisevic was left out of the side with Croatian skipper Niki Pilic instead picking Ljubicic and Ancic in the doubles.
Ivanisevic was brought into the squad despite retiring four years ago.
Although both sides are appearing in the Davis Cup final for the first time, Hrbaty insists the pressure will be on Croatia this week.
Croatia are considered favourites largely because of the Ljubicic's form.
Hrbaty, who has never beaten Ljubicic, said: "I saw on the ITF website that 80% of people say Croatia will win.
"It's not a plan, but I say Ljubicic is not Croatia, he is not the team, he is just one person."
Hrbaty is counting on home support to raise his game when it matters most.
"It's going to be tough, but we play at home, in front of the home crowd.
"At home we are always something like a dark horse, and we are going to prove it again and beat Croatia."
The final starts on Friday with two singles rubbers, continues on Saturday with the doubles and finishes on Sunday with two singles matches.
Both countries came through last year's play-offs to earn a place in the 2005 World Group.
Friday 2 December
Beck v Ljubicic (1300 GMT)
Hrbaty v Ancic
Saturday 3 December
Beck/Mertinak v Ancic/Ljubicic (1400 GMT)
Sunday 4 December
Hrbaty v Ljubicic (1300 GMT)
Beck v Ancic
