Paes-Bhupathi make semis

NEW DELHI / Paris, JUNE 1: The Indian pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi stormed into the semi-finals of the French Open men's doub...

NEW DELHI / Paris, JUNE 1: The Indian pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi stormed into the semi-finals of the French Open men8217;s doubles event with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Rick Leach US and Ellis Ferreira South Africa at Roland Garros on Tuesday.

They began disastrously as Bhupathi dropped serve in the second game. After Ferreira served a love game, it was 0-3. From then on, the Indian pair played much better, though they couldn8217;t get a break in the next four games and it was 2-5 soon. Then, with Leach serving for the set at 5-3, the Indians launched a timely attack.

Leach had to fight through a break point at 30-40 and then had a set point. However, the Indians hung in there, but wasted three more break chances before getting the break on the fifth attempt. Then Bhupathi held serve easily and it was 5-5.

Now it was Ferreira8217;s turn to get broken as the world number 2 pair reeled off three points in a row. Then Paes held serve at love to climax a super run in the set which saw the Indianswinning five games in a row.

The second set saw the Indians surge ahead 2-1. Leach was taken to two deuces and a break point in the fifth game as well, but he held on grimly.

Thereon, Paes-Bhupathi simply went on build upon the 4-2 advantage to complete the set and match at 6-2.

The duel which lasted 75 minutes saw the Indians surge into their sixth Grand Slam semi-final out of seven contested. They have picked up 401 points already. GRAF RISES; RIOS TUMBLES: Steffi Graf scrambled past second seed Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 today to reach the French Open semifinals while Martina Hingis and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario ended the dreams of two Austrian outsiders.

Story continues below this ad

Slovakia8217;s Dominik Hrbaty scored a shock win over ninth-seeded Chilean Marcelo Rios to reach the men8217;s singles semi-finals. Hrbaty won 7-6 7-4, 6-2, 6-7 6-8, 6-3. World number one Hingis ended qualifier Barbara Schwartz8217;s run with a 6-2, 6-2 win on the same court in just 60 minutes while over on Centre Court defending championSanchez-Vicario took 90 minutes to advance 6-2, 6-4 over Sylvia Plischke.

In the semis, Hingis will likely face Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, the defending champion.

Yesterday, it was a day for two Brazilians to shine, especially Gustavo Kuerten, the 1997 champion.

Kuerten, reached the quarterfinals yesterday with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory czech Bohdan Ulihrach. Next, he will meet Andrei Medvedev, the much-improved Ukrainian who knocked out Pete Sampras in the second round and beat Frenchman Arnaud di Pasquale yesterday.

Story continues below this ad

Joining them in the quarterfinals are Andre Agassi 8212; the surly Marcelo Rios from Chile 8212; another Brazilian, Fernando Meligeni, Spain8217;s Alex Corretja, Uruguay8217;s Marcelo Filippini and Slovakia8217;s Dominik Hrbaty.y