ZAGREB, Croatia -- The United States team criticized both the crowd and match oficials after James Blake and Mardy Fish lost the doubles rubber on Saturday in their Davis Cup first-round tie against Croatia.

Goran Ivanisevic and Ivan Ljubicic produced a stunning comeback to beat the American pair 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4, but it was the intimidating atmosphere at Hall Dom Sportiva in Zagreb that upset the visitors.

"I was disappointed with the lack of class in some of the fans," Blake said afterwards. "They were calling out between serves and during points."

Blake said he was upset that neither the match referee nor the umpire, Carlos Ramos, of Portugal, had intevened.

"The Davis Cup is all about friendships and fairness and that was a little disappointing, though I don't think that's why we lost."

U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said the umpire had refused to act on his requests to ask the crowd to be silent.

"What worried me was that the only instructions were given in English, and not in Croatian," he said. "I don't know, but I imagine many of them don't speak English, and were not told."

"That's what the fair play rule is for, and I felt like not enough was done."