Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison edged Mate Pavic and Ivan Dodig 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 1-6 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) in Zadar in a thrilling match after 4 hours and 43 minutes to keep the US hopes alive. It was one of the most exciting matches of the 2018 Davis Cup season with a lot of ups and downs. Thanks to this dramatic win the US team captained by Jim Courier has closed the gap to 1-2 before the final two singles matches on Sunday afternoon.
Mike and his twin brother retired from the Davis Cup after the USA lost to Croatia in the quarter finals of the 2016 Davis Cup, but Mike took the decision to come out of Davis Cup retirement and return to play the semifinal after winning the Wimbledon and the US Open doubles titles.
Mate Pavic, the youngest doubles world number 1 since 1996, made his first appearance in the Davis Cup since 2014. He got the first break in the seventh game of the first set. The Croatian team wasted a set point on return in the ninth game. Mike Byan and Ryan Harrison got a double break in the 10th and 12th games to clinch the first set 7-5.
Both teams traded breaks in the sixth and seventh games of the second set. Pavic and Dodig fended off a set point in the 12th game to set up a tie-break. The home team earned a set point at 6-5, but Bryan and Harrison fought back by winning three consecutive points to take a 2-0 lead. Pavic and Dodig went up a double break in the second and third sets to win the third set 6-1. The home players won the fourth set in the tie-break 7-5 to send the match to the fifth set.
Both teams traded breaks in the early games of the fifth set and held their next service games forcing the decider to another tie-break. Harrison sealed the decisive point with a return winner at 6-5 to the delight of the US team.
“We both have high energy. It’s great to win one for the country. to win 7-6 in the fifth on the road and on dirt, this is right up there and I will never forget this one”, said Mike Bryan.
