Double trouble for America against Croatia

Bryan twins' first loss in Davis Cup put U.S. on the brink of first-round ouster.
CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- Twins Mike and Bob Bryan lost a doubles match for the first time in Davis Cup play Saturday and Croatia took the lead against the favored United States.
Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic defeated the Bryans 3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4, 6-4 for Croatia's second win in three matches in the best-of-five first round.
The Bryans were 5-0 in Davis Cup going in against Ljubicic and Ancic, bronze medalists in the 2004 Olympics and playing Davis Cup doubles together for just the second time.
Down 2-1, the Americans' hopes rest with Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi and their remaining singles matches.
Roddick plays Ljubicic in today's first match, then Agassi will face Ancic in the fifth and final match -- if the Croatians haven't clinched by then.
Success against U.S.
Croatia ousted the United States in the opening round of the 2003 Cup play, the only previous meeting between the two countries. Ljubicic won both his singles matches and teamed for a doubles victory in that competition in Zagreb.
America hasn't won the Davis Cup since 1995, the country's longest drought in 68 years.
Ljubicic, a finalist in four tour events already this year, made the difference in the doubles victory. Along with his booming serve, often in the high 130-mph range, he slashed shots down the lines and showed a deft touch at the net.
After winning the first set, the Bryans seemed to be back on their heels much of the rest of the match against the two talented singles players.
Ljubicic served 13 aces -- including three in a row for a 5-3 lead in the fourth set -- and Ancic had eight. The Bryans combined had eight.
A day earlier, Roddick defeated Ancic 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 after Ljubicic opened the three days of matches by downing Agassi in straight sets.
Agassi, who turns 35 next month, is playing Davis Cup for the first time in five years. Ljubicic's 6-3, 7-6 (0), 6-3 win over him was only Agassi's sixth loss in 36 Davis Cup matches.
If Agassi does play Ancic in the final match of the round, he will be spotting the Croatian a few years -- Ancic, 20, was a toddler when Agassi first played Davis Cup in 1988.
Slovakia 3, Spain 0
At Bratislava, Slovakia, defending champion Spain was eliminated when Slovakia took an insurmountable 3-0 lead with a doubles victory.
Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak, playing together in Davis Cup doubles for the first time, beat Albert Costa and Rafael Nadal 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (8) to move Slovakia into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2000.
Spain, which beat the United States to win its second Davis Cup just three months ago, was playing without three of its top players -- Carlos Moya, Tommy Robredo and Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Argentina 3, Czech Republic 0
At Buenos Aires, Argentina, David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas edged Tomas Zib and Jan Hernych 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to give Argentina a spot in the quarterfinals. Argentina will face Australia in the quarterfinals.
Australia 3, Austria 0
At Sydney, Australia, Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge beat Alexander Peya and Julian Knowle, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to put Australia into the quarterfinals.
Belarus 2, Romania 1
At Brasov, Romania, Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov teamed up to beat Andrei Pavel and Gabriel Trifu 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4 to give Belarus the lead.
Russia 2, Chile 1
At Moscow, Marat Safin and Mikhail Youzhny beat Fernando Gonzalez and Adrian Garcia 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to put Russia ahead. In today's reverse singles, Safin was to play Gonzalez, while Youzhny was to face Garcia.
France 2, Sweden 1
At Strasbourg, France, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra beat Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4 to give France the lead.
Netherlands 2, Switzerland 1
At Fribourg, Switzerland, Yves Allegro and George Bastl fought off three match points to beat Dennis Van Scheppingen and Peter Wessels 5-7, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, 9-7 and keep Switzerland alive.
Switzerland has to win both reverse singles matches today to advance.
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