* Stepanek and Berdych grind out five-set victories
* Croat Karlovic's world record 78 aces not enough
* Hosts must win Saturday's doubles to stay alive
(updates after second rubber)
POREC, Croatia, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Czech Republic took a
2-0 lead in their Davis Cup semi-final against Croatia on Friday
after Radek Stepanek battled for six hours to beat Ivo Karlovic
and Tomas Berdych also won in five sets against Marin Cilic.
Stepanek put the visitors ahead by overcoming Karlovic 6-7
7-6 7-6 6-7 16-14 in a marathon opener in which the 82 games
played equalled the highest number in a Davis Cup rubber since
the introduction of the tiebreak in 1989.
The games total was just three short of the overall record
for a World Group tie after world number 17 Stepanek achieved
the key break of serve in the 29th game of an epic fifth set.
Karlovic, the tallest man in professional tennis, fired down
a world record 78 aces but it was not enough to win an
extraordinary match that had the fans on the edge of their seats
at the Zatika Arena in the northern Adriatic town of Porec.
"I have no words right now, it was like a lottery and I
managed to seize my chances," said Stepanek after the fourth
longest Davis Cup match, which lasted five hours 59 minutes.
"It was a long and exhausting match but when you play for
your country it's worth it. It wouldn't matter if it lasted for
another few hours," he told Croatian TV.
In the second rubber, Berdych needed three hours and 47
minutes to beat 15th ranked Cilic 6-3 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-3.
HARD MATCH
"It was a very hard match... I played great at the start,
but Marin came back," world number 18 Berdych told Croatian
television. "With huge help from our fans, I managed to beat him
and I think this was one of the best matches I have ever played.
With the Czechs needing just one more point to reach the
final, Croatia must win Saturday's doubles match to keep the tie
alive for Sunday's reverse singles rubbers.
Czechoslovakia won the Davis Cup in 1980 with a 4-1 triumph
over Italy but Czech Republic have never reached the final.
Spain lead Israel 2-0 after Friday's singles rubbers in the
other semi-final being played in Murcia.
Stepanek and Karlovic were exhausted after a thrilling,
see-saw encounter accompanied by the sound of bugles and drums
in which the Croat failed to convert five match points.
The big-serving Karlovic obliterated the all-time aces
record of 59 held by American Ed Kauder since 1955 but said it
was no consolation for losing.
"This is a tough defeat but I did the best I could," said
the world number 31. "I was a bit disappointed by the fact that
too few people attended the event and that the visiting crowd
outshouted the local supporters."
Croatia coach Goran Prpic was disappointed only a handful of
home fans turned up at the 3,700-capacity arena.
"Luck has turned its back on us today..." he said. "We
played great tennis but the atmosphere was as if we played in
the Czech Republic and in such tough matches it can prove to be
a decisive factor."
(Reporting by Zlata Zsolnay, editing by Ken Ferris and Tony
Jimenez
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