Croatia at U.S. Davis Cup Preview

Agassi, who lost to Ljubicic in their last meeting and beat Ancic 7-5 in the fifth in their only contest, realizes it could be a long weekend.

"They're playing obviously very well both Ivan and Mario," Agassi said. "Both these guys are showing they can beat anyone -- the best in the world -- at any given day. I think Ljubicic has been in the last two finals and his confidence I would imagine is pretty high."

Agassi, talked back on to the U.S. team for the first time in five years by captain Patrick McEnroe and the enthusiastic group including Roddick, the Bryan brothers and practice partners James Blake, Taylor Dent and crew, hopes to add to his trophy case from his D-Cup championships in 1990 and '92. While his absence has been a long one, he retains a streak of six consecutive singles wins, with his last D-Cup loss in 1998 to former No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

The doubles will hold the key for the U.S., with the Bryan brothers, undefeated in Davis Cup play at 5-0, giving Agassi and Roddick a rest while Ljubicic and Ancic again take to the court again on day two. The American twins Bob and Mike have defeated the Athens Olympics doubles bronze medal winners in all three of their meetings, with all three going three sets.

"We've always had tough matches with them," Mike Bryan told Tennis-X. "And they really are two of the hottest players on the tour in 2005."

Roddick has beaten Ancic in both their meetings and is 5-1 career against Ljubicic, but the match-ups tighten up when you look at the numbers below the numbers. Ancic wons sets off Roddick in both those losses, and Ljubicic and Roddick have had epic battles, with four tiebreak sets in their last two meetings.

Ivanisevic, backing up captain Nikki Pilic in the Croatian coaching duties, says his team can go all the way.

"The draw is not easy, but if we beat the States somehow, we can win the Davis Cup because we have a good draw after that," Ivanisevic said. "I told the team that they can win it all, but first they have to win this match...They both like to play against Roddick. Ljubicic even gave Roddick a very tough match the year Roddick won the US Open, so it's going to be interesting. I'm looking forward to it."

Factor in some of the beatings Agassi has taken lately, combined with Roddick's big-match meltdowns (re: Australian Open), and this toss-up is the one to watch in round one of World Group play.