ZAGREB, Croatia, March 6 (UPI) -- Philipp Petzschner downed Ivo Karlovic in a decisive fifth match Sunday, boosting Germany to a 3-2 win over Croatia in first-round Davis Cup play.
Petzschner used straight sets to best the 6-foot-10 Croat 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) in the second reverse-singles match, boosting Germany into July's quarterfinals.
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Petzschner, 26, had stepped into the lineup to replace Florian Mayer, and he responded in a big way, firing 21 aces in his victory.
Croatia, which entered Sunday's play trailing 2-1, had stayed alive in the first reverse-singles match when Marin Cilic downed Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
