Super Mario and Marin check Croatia in to Davis Cup quarters

Published on Saturday 7 March 2009 18:50

CROATIA advanced to the Davis Cup world group quarter-finals when Mario Ancic and Marin Cilic beat Chile's Nicolas Massu and Paul Capdeville 6-3 6-3 3-6 6-4 to give them an unassailable 3-0 lead in their tie.

Croatia, who won the competition in 2005, will now meet either the United States at home or Switzerland – in which case a draw will decide the hosts as the two teams have not met before.

With today's reverse singles now being dead rubbers, Croatia captain Goran Prpic is likely to rest his first-choice players and give veteran Ivo Karlovic and Roko Karanusic a chance.

"I tip the United States to beat Switzerland and if that happens, we will pick red clay as hosts because the Americans are more accustomed to a hardcourt surface," Prpic said.

The doubles proved to be a more difficult test for the Croatians than Friday's opening singles.

Croatia won the first two sets with minimum fuss but having given themselves a glimmer of hope by breaking Croatia's serve three times in the third set, the visitors saved three match points in the fourth before Ancic sealed the tie with a perfect drop volley.

"It was a great atmosphere and we are delighted to have wrapped up the tie on the second day, we did a good job here," Ancic said.