Ivanisevic shocked in Davis Cup marathon

Little-known Italian Filippo Volandri beat Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic in five gruelling sets on Friday to give Italy the edge in their Davis Cup World Group qualifier against Croatia.

World number 141 Volandri beat the tall Croatian 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 0-6, 6-4 in two hours 49 minutes to give Italy a 1-0 lead after the opening rubber of the claycourt tie.

Volandri, who celebrated his 20th birthday two weeks ago, was trailing 4-1 in the final set but dug deep and broke the volatile left-hander's whipped serve twice to claw his way back into the set.

The Italian then had to overcome severe cramp in his right leg on match point, and even stopped to have massage treatment, but held on to serve out the game and the match.

He said afterwards that it was one of the first times he had played a five-set match.