Karlovic rallies to beat Blake and give Croatia 1-0 lead against US in Davis Cup quarterfinals

October 12th, 2009 Blake rallies to advance at Shanghai MastersSHANGHAI — James Blake rallied to defeat Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 Monday in the first round of the Shanghai Masters. The American was broken early in the first set but won the second when Karlovic sent a forehand wide in the tiebreaker.

September 19th, 2009 Czechs reach 1st Davis Cup final in 29 yearsPOREC, Croatia — The Czech Republic reached its first Davis Cup final in 29 years Saturday after securing an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Croatia by winning the doubles. Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych defeated Marin Cilic and Lovro Zovko 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 to decide the best-of-five series.

September 18th, 2009 6 hours, 78 aces: Czechs win Davis Cup marathonPOREC, Croatia — Radek Stepanek overcame a record 78 aces to defeat Ivo Karlovic in five sets in one of the longest matches in tennis history on Friday, when the Czech Republic took a 2-0 lead over Croatia in the Davis Cup semifinals. Stepanek won 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-7 (2), 16-14 in a match that lasted 5 hours, 59 minutes.

July 12th, 2009 Croatia beats US in Davis CupPOREC, Croatia — Croatia has eliminated the United States from the Davis Cup after Marin Cilic beat James Blake for an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the quarterfinals. Cilic defeated Blake 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on Sunday to help Croatia reach its first Davis Cup semifinal since winning the competition in 2005.

July 12th, 2009 US ousted by Croatia in Davis Cup quarterfinalsPOREC, Croatia — The United States was ousted from the Davis Cup, and left to wonder how it might have gone had Andy Roddick been around to pelt opponents with his laser serve. James Blake was unable to keep the Americans alive in the quarterfinals Sunday, losing to Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in the opening match of reverse singles.

July 11th, 2009 Davis Cup: US cuts Croatia's lead to 2-1POREC, Croatia — Bob and Mike Bryan beat Roko Karanusic and Lovro Zovko to keep the United States alive in the Davis Cup, cutting Croatia's quarterfinal lead to 2-1 on Saturday. The Bryan brothers cruised to a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 doubles win on the indoor clay at Zatika Hall.

July 11th, 2009 US down 2-0 to Croatia in Davis Cup quartersPOREC, Croatia — Marin Cilic outlasted Mardy Fish in five sets to give Croatia a 2-0 lead over the United States after the opening singles of their Davis Cup quarterfinal on Friday. Cilic beat Fish 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-1, 8-6 in a match that lasted 4 hours, 23 minutes and ended at 1 a.m.

July 10th, 2009 Israel leads Russia in Davis Cup quartersTEL AVIV, Israel — Israel has taken a surprising 2-0 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup quarterfinals after Dudi Sela rallied to beat Mikhai Youzhny in the second singles match. Sela won 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5 on Friday after Harel Levy beat Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, putting Israel one win away from its first semifinal appearance.

July 10th, 2009 Israel leads Russia 2-0 in Davis Cup quartersTEL AVIV, Israel — Israel took a surprising 2-0 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Friday after Dudi Sela rallied to beat Mikhai Youzhny in the second singles match. Sela won 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5 after Harel Levy beat Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, putting Israel one win away from its first semifinal appearance.

July 10th, 2009 US drops opener to Croatia in Davis Cup quartersPOREC, Croatia — Marin Cilic outlasted Mardy Fish in five sets to give Croatia a 2-0 lead over the United States after the opening singles of their Davis Cup quarterfinal on Friday. Cilic beat Fish 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-1, 8-6 in a match that lasted 4 hours, 23 minutes and ended at 1 a.m.

July 10th, 2009 Spain rallies for 1-0 lead vs Germany in Davis CupMARBELLA, Spain — Fernando Verdasco has rallied to beat Andreas Beck 6-0, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-1 to give defending Davis Cup champion Spain a 1-0 lead in its quarterfinal against Germany. Beck seemed nervous at the start of his first Davis Cup match Friday as the ninth-ranked Verdasco needed just 22 minutes to win the first set.

June 30th, 2009 Nadal officially left off Spain team in Davis CupLONDON — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was officially left off Spain's team for the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. Nadal, who also missed last year's final over Argentina, has not played a tour match since losing in the fourth round at the French Open.

June 30th, 2009 Nadal left off Spain team for Davis CupLONDON — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was left off Spain's team for the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday because of sore knees. Nadal has struggled with tendinitis in his knees, which forced him to skip defending his Wimbledon title.

June 29th, 2009 Roddick, Blake, Bryans on US Davis Cup teamWHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — James Blake is joining Andy Roddick and the Bryan brothers on the U.S.

June 12th, 2009 Roddick to face Blake in semis at Queen's ClubLONDON — Andy Roddick stayed on track for his fifth title at Queen's Club by defeating Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) Friday, advancing to the semifinals of the Aegon Championships. In Saturday's semifinals, Roddick will face James Blake, who downed Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (5), 6-3.