CARSON, Calif., March 5 -- 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 (10-8), 6-4, 6-4, for Croatia's second win in three matches in the best-of-five first round.
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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 will play Ljubicic in Sunday's first match, then Agassi will face Ancic in the fifth and final match -- if the Croatians haven't clinched by then.
Croatia ousted the United States in the opening round of 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 ATP 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 (7-0), 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 tie, he will be spotting the Croatian a few years -- Ancic, 20, was a toddler when Agassi first played Davis Cup in 1988.
