Regeln » in the 55 as a result," Vickers said. Waltrip said MWR would

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The odds stacked against his underdog side, Croatian captain Zeljko Krajan was brimming with confidence Sunday morning before the reverse singles match in the Davis Cup quarterfinal tie against United States.Marin Cilic and Borna Coric backed up their captains belief in a stirring rally, winning matches to give Croatia a 3-2 comeback victory at the Tualatin Hills hard courts.Today, I knew they were going to bring the quality, Krajan said.Cilic got in started, beating John Isner 7-6 (11-9), 6-3, 6-4. Coric then topped Jack Sock 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.The U.S. lost for the fourth time in 161 tries when leading 2-0 lead in a Davis Cup tie.After the United States swept the singles matches Friday, Cilic and Ivan Dodig kept Croatia alive Saturday with a four-set victory over twins Bob and Mike Bryan in doubles.Its really unbelievable, Krajan said. I would say shocked from this win. Looking back on Friday and being 2-love down and then playing against the Bryans yesterday, it didnt look very positive for us.Croatia will host France -- a 3-1 winner at the Czech Republic -- in the World Group semifinals Sept. 16-18. Croatia reached the semifinals for the first time since 2009. It won its only Davis Cup title in 2005.In the other semifinal, defending champion Britain will host Argentina.Cilic set the tone for the comeback against Isner, a decision that was closer than the score indicated. Cilic won a marathon tiebreaker in the opening set, then broke Isners serve once in the next two sets to pull out the win.The opening set was riveting. Isner was hot, allowing Cilic to win only one point during his first 25 serves. But the American was unable to break Cilic, forcing a tiebreaker. Cilic won a couple points off Isners serve late in the tiebreaker to pull out an 11-9 win, setting off a torrent of emotion along the Croatia sideline.That was definitely a tough task, but I stayed in there mentally, Cilic said. I was very, very focused.Isner was clearly disappointed he didnt get the jump on Cilic.The first set was critical. Felt like I definitely was the better player in the first set. Didnt get paid off, but thats on me. He came up with the goods when he needed it. That gave him a lot of confidence, I think, Isner said.U.S. captain Jim Courier disagreed that momentum swayed in Croatias favor after Cilic pulled out the first set.Thats not the way we look at it. First sets can be critical ... these matches are won on small margins. There are a couple points that go our way, and were sitting here with a smile on our face instead of a little disappointment, Courier said.Unlike Fridays first singles match, when Cilic lost after leading Sock by two sets, the worlds No. 12-ranked player finished off Isner by breaking him in the ninth game to pull out a 6-4 win.Cilic is 6-0 against Isner.The 19-year-old Coric is becoming a reliable closer for Croatia. It was the second time this year Coric won a fifth and deciding match to win a Davis Cup tie.I have to be honest. I like that kind of situation, Coric said. I like it more than playing on Court 27 somewhere, somewhere far away from the crowd. I just like the big stage more, when its more important.After splitting the first two sets against Sock, Coric won the final two sets by breaking the Americans serves four times. Corics performance was decidedly stronger than his three-set loss to Isner on Friday.I was much more relaxed, Coric said. I was hitting the ball, going for the points. I just wasnt waiting for him to miss, because I knew I cannot play like that because hes going to kill me with the forehand.Sock, who beat Cilic in a five-setter Friday, was upbeat despite dropping the finale.Obviously, I had chances and opportunities that I didnt convert. Thats tennis. Some days its firing and some days theyre missing a little bit. He played a great match, Sock said.Croatia is 4-0 in Davis Cup ties against the United States.Cheap Asics Shoes Nz . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Asics Shoes Sale New Zealand . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. http://www.wholesaleasicsnz.com/ .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Asics Clearance Nz . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. Asics Nz Outlet . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Out for the season with a broken leg, Tony Stewart turned to one of NASCARs most respected drivers to take over the No. 14. At 54, Mark Martin is up for the challenge of taking the wheel for his good friend. "Hopefully, we can turn the 14 car back over to Tony an even stronger organization than what it was when he stepped away and got injured," Martin said. "Thats the thing that I really want to work hard to do, is when its all said and done with, I hope that they can look back and say they were glad that they had me as a part of the organization." Martin was released from his part-time schedule at Michael Waltrip Racing on Monday and will drive the No. 14 Chevrolet in 12 of the final 13 Sprint Cup races for Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart, a three-time Cup champion, will miss the rest of the season while he recovers from the broken right leg suffered in a sprint car crash Aug. 5 at Southern Iowa Speedway. Nationwide Series driver Austin Dillon will drive the No. 14 on Oct. 20 at Talladega. Dillon filled in for Stewart on Sunday at Michigan and finished 14th. Martin entered 16 of 23 races as part of a shared ride in the No. 55 with Michael Waltrip at Brian Vickers at MWR. Vickers, who won this season at New Hampshire, will now drive the No. 55 Toyota for MWR in 12 of the final 13 races. He was originally scheduled to drive just three more times. Waltrip will race the No. 55 at Talladega as previously scheduled. Martin has 40 wins and 56 poles in 870 career Sprint Cup starts. "My motivation for racing is not for points, its for racing," Martin said. "I want to race, and I want to finish." Martin gets his chance after Stewarts injury cost him his shot at driving for a fourth championship. Stewart had one win this season and was a solid contender to make the Chase for the Sprint Championship. Martin will be the third driver in the No. 14 this season. Max Papis drove the Toyota in Stewarts absence at Watkins Glen. The No. 14 car is 13th in the owner standings. "Obviously, Im disappointed to be out," Stewart said in a statement. "But the team is in very good hands with Mark Martin and Austin Dillon. Mark is someone Ive looked up to my entire career and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. Austin is a great young talent, and he showed that Sunday at Michigan." Stewart is expected to return in time for preseason testing in January 2014. "We expect a full recovery by Daytona or close to it," said Greg Zipadelli, competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing. "It may be able to be done earlier, its just not worth it. Its a bad break to the leg,, and he needs time to go through the process of healing, rehabilitation, all those things.dddddddddddd." Martins arrival was the only transaction SHR was ready to announce on a busy day of musical seats. Kurt Busch had reportedly been offered a deal to drive a fourth car next season for Stewart-Haas Racing, and is mulling that offer and others. Stewart said last month the organization was not ready to expand to four cars in releasing Ryan Newman. "Obviously, theres options out there," Zipadelli said. "Were looking at everything thats there. There is nothing done. Right now, were focused on (Newman), trying to win another race to make it into the Chase and getting Mark fitted up in this car and heading to Bristol to do the best job we can." Newman, who won at Indianapolis, is 15th in the standings and out of Chase spot with three races left until the 12-driver Chase field is set. Stewart is 18th and dropping in the standings and Danica Patrick is 27th. SHR will remain at least a three-car operation next season when it adds Kevin Harvick. Waltrip said Martin achieved all the goals both he and the team set when he began a 24-race schedule in the No. 55 in 2012. Martin nearly won at Michigan before running out of fuel with four laps left. MWR announced last week that Vickers will drive the No. 55 Toyota for a full Sprint Cup schedule beginning next season. "No one wants to see Tony out of the 14, but I am appreciative of the opportunity to get more seat time in the 55 as a result," Vickers said. Waltrip said MWR would now turn its attention toward signing No. 55 crew chief Rodney Childers and keep him with Vickers for next season. "Brian is poised to race for a championship," Waltrip said. "The job hes done in the 55 on a limited basis has been really impressive. To be able to be a part timer and grab a win like he did at Loudon, thats just amazing in this day and age." It took some co-operation to get this deal done. Martin needed MWR and sponsors Aarons and Toyota to let him out of his deal to jump to SHR and drive a Chevrolet. Martin could now help send the No. 14 into the owners standings portion of the Chase and knock out an MWR team. Martin, who has five runner-up series finishes and no championships in a three decade Cup career, said he has yet to consider his plans for 2014. "A week ago, I was going to race a partial schedule," he said. "Now, Im racing all but one with a whole new situation with what I feel like is a lot of challenges and a lot of pressure. "And I dont want to think about 2014 at all right now." ' ' '