Tennis: Croatia claimed the Davis Cup for the first time after Mario Ancic won the deciding rubber against Slovakia's Michal Mertinak in Bratislava yesterday.

The visitors started the day 2-1 ahead in the tie, but Dominik Hrbaty beat Ivan Ljubicic 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-4 to level matters and set up a nailbiting fifth rubber.

In that, Ancic's experience proved vital as he clinched the first set on a tie-break and then ran away with the match 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-4.

The deciding match had threatened to be something of an anti-climax after the enthralling encounter between Hrbaty and Ljubicic, and early indications seemed to support that theory.

Facing a player ranked over 100 places above him in the world, Mertinak was already beginning to look out of his depth midway through the opening set, but somehow managed to hold on to his serve and take it to a tie-break.

But then it all fell apart for the 26-year-old Slovakian, who was drafted in to replace team-mate Karol Kucera in the fifth rubber, as Ancic struck a series of punishing blows to secure a convincing 7-1 scoreline.

Ancic, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, then consolidated his lead at the start of the next set with a break of serve in only the second game after Mertinak rushed a forehand into the net.

The home favourite tried valiantly to get back into the set and even won his first break point of the match in the fifth game, but Ancic staved off the challenge to open up a two-sets-to-love lead.

The Croatian contingent in the Sibamac Arena were beginning to sense victory but Mertinak halted any early celebrations with his first break of serve in the sixth game.

Yet having brought the scores level, the Slovakian failed to make the most of the opportunity with another wide forehand two games later handing the advantage back to Ancic and giving the Croatian the chance to serve for the match.

The 21-year-old quickly raced out to three championship points, and a long forehand from Mertinak on the second was to end the issue.

DAVIS CUP: World Group Final (in Bratislava, Slovakia): Rubber 1: I Ljubicic (Cro) bt K Kucera (Svk) 6-3 6-4 6-3. Rubber 2: D Hrbaty (Svk) bt M Ancic (Cro) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-4. Rubber 3: M Ancic (Cro), I Ljubicic (Cro) bt D Hrbaty (Svk), M Mertinak (Svk) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-6 (7-5). Rubber 4: D Hrbaty (Svk) bt I Ljubicic (Cro) 4-6 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-4. Rubber 5: M Ancic (Cro) bt M Mertinak (Svk) 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-4.

* Croatia win Davis Cup 3-2.