DAVIS CUP FINAL SCHEDULE Friday 2 December Ljubicic bt Kucera 6-3 6-4 6-3 Hrbaty bt Ancic 7-6 6-3 6-7 6-4 Saturday 3 December Hrbaty/Mertinak v Ancic/Ljubicic (1400 GMT) Sunday 4 December Hrbaty v Ljubicic (1300 GMT) Kucera v Ancic

Slovak number one Hrbaty beat Ancic 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 in an entertaining match.

Earlier, Ivan Ljubicic had beaten Karol Kucera 6-3 6-4 6-3.

The victory meant Ljubicic became the first player to win 10 consecutive live rubbers in a Davis Cup year since World Group play began in 1981.

Kucera came into the match as a late replacement for Karol Beck, who was ruled out with a knee injury on Friday.

And the 31-year-old was no match for Ljubicic, who has enjoyed an impressive season and is ranked nine in the world.

Kucera, who in contrast is ranked a lowly 297, lost his serve to trail 4-2 in the opening set, and from then on Ljubicic took control.

Ljubicic has been in brilliant form for Croatia

An early break of serve enabled the Croatian to take the second set and Kucera's fragile resistance was broken when he lost his serve at the start of the third.

Ljubicic sealed victory with a flashing backhand pass.

Afterwards he insisted his late change of opponent had not affected him at all.

"If you get Federer instead of Nadal, now that's a change," he said.

"But the difference between Kucera and Karl Beck wasn't that big, so I didn't prepare differently. But I was careful - Kucera was once six in the world."

Beck pulled out if the opening singles because of a knee injury, although there has been unconfirmed speculation that he failed a drugs test in the Davis Cup semi-final against Argentina.

Ancic is obviously Croatia's weak link, he has constantly not delivered for his country From IXM Have your say on Five Live

The 23-year-old vehemently denied the reports during a news conference on Thursday and is still expected to play in Saturday's doubles tie with Michal Mertinak against Ljubicic and Ancic.

Hrbaty's win followed a tight first set during which neither player offered up a break point.

The world number 19 found inspiration in the tiebreak and moved up a gear in the second set, breaking serve for the first time in the seventh game.

"It was very difficult. I don't really like it when it's all about serving," said Hrbaty, who has been the mainstay of Slovakia's run to the final. "I think I served perfectly."