ZAGREB, Croatia – Germany is a step closer to the Davis Cup quarterfinals after beating Croatia in five sets in doubles for a 2-1 lead in the first round.
Christopher Kas and Philipp Petzschner outlasted Ivan Dodig and Ivo Karlovic on Saturday by a score of 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Playing together for the first time in Davis Cup, Kas and Petzschner broke at 4-4 in the fifth set on Karlovic's serve. A game earlier, Croatia missed its opportunity at 0-30 at Kas's serve.
In Sunday's reverse singles, Croatia's Marin Cilic faces Philipp Kohlschreiber and Dodig plays Florian Mayer. The winner of the best-of-five series next faces France or Austria. The French lead that series 2-1.
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