Hyogo, Japan (Sports Network) - Ivan Dodig and Ivo Karlovic downed the
Japanese tandem of Tatsuma Ito and Yuichi Sugita on Saturday to give Croatia a
2-1 lead in the Davis Cup.
The two nations entered play tied at 1-1 after splitting Friday's singles
matches, but Dodig and Karlovic gave Croatia the lead in the best-of-five tie
with a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the host nation's pairing of Ito and
Sugita.
The Croats converted on just 3-of-14 break chances, but reeled off 24 aces en
route to the win.
Croatia will now look to take the first meeting between the two nations with
Sunday's reverse singles, which currently call for Japan's Kei Nishikori to
battle Dodig and Karlovic to take on Go Soeda.
Croatia captured its lone Davis Cup title in 2005, while Japan has only ever
reached one final, and that resulted in a loss against the 32-time champion
United States way back in 1921.
The Croatia-Japan winner will meet the Argentina-Germany victor in the
quarterfinals in April.
The Sports Network