1 Michael Stich made it clear on Friday that Croatia will have a hard time posting an upset over Germany in its World Group debut when he beat Goran Ivanisevic in four sets in the opening singles.
2 Ivanisevic struggled with his best weapon, his first serve, allowing the German to win 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 behind superior ground strokes.
3 Boris Becker, returning to Davis Cup play after a 2 1/2 year absence, is expected to give Germany a 2-0 lead Friday when he faces unknown Sasa Hirszon in the second singles later Friday.
4 The slim hopes of Croatia against Germany, a three-time Davis Cup titlist, rested on the shoulders of the hard-serving Ivanisevic. Croatia had hoped the world No. 5 could sweep both his singles against the two German aces.
5 But Ivanisevic's first serve, one of the most powerful in tennis, deserted him during the last two sets. Stich gained a decisive break in the fourth set at 3-2 after the Croatian fought off five other chances by the German.
6 'He didn't play badly, but when he has to fight on his serve, then some of his concentration gets lost,' said Stich.
7 Ivanisevic described the opening-round match against Germany as one of the biggest sporting events in the young country's history. After his loss against Stich, the 23-year-old sounded pessimistic.
8 'Our opponents are unbelievably good,' he said. 'Even when we lose 5-0, we have nothing to be ashamed about.'
9 Becker, who has posted a 33-2 mark in Davis Cup singles, will be facing a German club player ranked 329th in the world in Hirszon.
10 Croatia will also have a hard time Saturday when Ivanisevic and Hirszon face Becker and Stich in doubles. The two Germans last teamed up to win the gold medal in doubles at the 1992 Olympics.

Michael Stich made it clear on Friday that Croatia will have a hard time posting an upset over Germany in its World Group debut when he beat Goran Ivanisevic in four sets in the opening singles .
Stich
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