Fognini bests Dodig as Italy advances

PALAVELA, Italy, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Fabio Fognini bested Ivan Dodig in the fifth and final first-round match Sunday, sending Italy into the Davis Cup quarterfinals with a 3-2 defeat of Croatia.

The Croatians came into Sunday's final two reverse singles matches trailing Italy 2-1 but forced a fifth-rubber showdown when world No. 13 Marin Cilic dispatched Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.

The Italians, however, rebounded in front of their home fans as Fognini charged back following a poor first set to overcome Dodig 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Fognini logged six service breaks in the 2-hour, 52-minute match.

Italy now moves to the April quarterfinals. There they will meet Canada, which ousted Spain Sunday in another first-round match.