Porec, Croatia -- (Sports Network) - Ivo Karlovic and Marin Cilic gutted out five-set wins Friday, as Croatia took a 2-0 lead on the United States in quarterfinal action of the Davis Cup.

In the first rubber, American James Blake won the first two sets before the big-serving Karlovic stormed back to win 6-7 (5-7), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 on the indoor red clay court of the Zatika Sports Hall.

The Blake/Karlovic match lasted three hours, 38 minutes, but Cilic and Mardy Fish did them one better, playing more than four hours in another struggle.

The American Fish was a late addition to the American squad after Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick pulled out because of a hip injury. Fish won two of the first three sets, but Cilic pulled out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 8-6 victory in four hours, 23 minutes.

Croatia will go for the tie-clinching victory in Saturday's doubles action, sending Karlovic and Lovro Zovko against Mike and Bob Bryan, who will try to keep the United States' hopes for victory in the best-of-five tie alive.

The Bryan brothers have been dominant in Davis Cup play with an outstanding record of 16-2. That includes a 7-0 mark on clay.

This is the third meeting between the United States and Croatia, which leads the all-time series 2-0. The Croats topped the U.S., 3-2, in their last meeting, a first-round tilt in Carson, California four years ago. Croatia also beat the U.S. in the 2003 World Group first round, and is the only country the United States has not beaten.

The USA-Croatia winner will face either Argentina or the Czech Republic in the semifinals in September.