2 Responses to daviscup05ancic_mertinak

1. Voo de Mar says:

   February 2, 2025 at 4:37 pm

   Points won by each set: | 46-35, 34-26, 30-23 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   41 % Ancic – 38 of 92
   23 % Mertinak – 24 of 102

   Arguably the most unexpected Davis Cup final in the Open Era beside South Africa vs India in 1974. Neither of two Slavic teams was seeded that year, both made upsets in the first round eliminating finalists of the previous edition (Slovakia defeated Spain 4-1, Croatia ousted USA 4-1 abroad). In terms of the decisive rubber it was a similar situation to 1996 (Edberg) and 2001 (Rafter), so a player (Kucera) – in his last career event – didn’t feel physically well enough to carry the nation hopes on his shoulders. The 31-year-old Kucera [297] wouldn’t probably have played the first rubber if Karol Beck [45] hadn’t been suspended for clenbuterol (he’d tested positive after a stunning victory in the Davis Cup semfinal against Coria). Slovakian’s captain Mecir didn’t have an alternative option, he had to choose a doubles specialist Mertinak [165] who will remain the weakest player to take part in a decisive fifth rubber in the Davis Cup finals… The 26-year-old introverted Mertinak had won a few rubbers on that court in previous ties (Slovakia was always a host before the final), and didn’t actually play a bad match finding himself in a situation beyond his level, simply Ancic’s much better serve made the difference between them. In the opener Mertinak, intelligently attacking the net with approach shots, survived three games facing break points, but in the tie-break he paid the price for a lack of service winners. The only break of the 2nd set came in Mertinak’s first service games, perhaps nerves played a crucial role because he lost a point at deuce when the ball dropped out of his pocket for the second time (within a few points!). Mertinak improved from *1:3 to 4:3 in the 3rd set, but much more experienced in three-hour matches or longer, five years younger Ancic [22] easily took the last three games. A moment after he realised he won the most important match of his life, threw his racquet into the stands and sank into arms of Ljubicic [photo]. Pilic, who’d triumphed three times as a Davis Cup team captain of Germany, said: “Just because some nations are bigger, it doesn’t mean they are better than we are. What’s important is the feeling that with my own people we won it and for us it’s an historic moment.”

   Serve & volley: Ancic 3/4, Mertinak 2/5

   CROATIA d. SLOVAKIA 3-2 at Sibamac Arena National Tennis Centre, Bratislava, Slovakia: Hard (Indoor)
   Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) d. Karol Kucera (SVK) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
   Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) d. Mario Ancic (CRO) 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4
   Mario Ancic / Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) d. Dominik Hrbaty / Michal Mertinak (SVK) 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-6(5)
   Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) d. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
   Mario Ancic (CRO) d. Michal Mertinak (SVK) 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-4

   

   From left: Ivo Karlović, Goran Ivanišević, Nikola Pilić (captain), Mario Ančić and Ivan Ljubičić… the tallest team who won the Davis Cup (198 cm on average)

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   February 2, 2025 at 4:39 pm

   Croatia’s route to the title: USA 3-2, Romania 4-1, Russia 3-2, Slovakia 3-2

   Points for the team:
   9 – Ivan Ljubicic
   3.5 – Mario Ancic
   0 – Roko Karanusic, Ivo Karlovic

   Goran Ivanisevic finished his career at Wimbledon 2004. He was appointed to the final 1.5 years later more for merits as a good team spirit than a real competitor,
   but who knows, maybe he would have played doubles if the Croats had led 2:0 after the opening day
   Ljubicic was bidding to match John McEnroe’s record of 12 Davis Cup victories in a season (BigMac did it in 1982)
   Marin Cilic was 17 year-old at the time, playing his first pro season at the Futures level, finished the year as no. 587
   ===========================
   In 2004 Slovakia was relegated to Group I (!) but came back to the World Group thanks to victories over South Africa and Germany (both 3-2)

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