Stars on course for Super Sunday

Playing the tournament after eight years, Bjorkman and Mahesh Bhupathi went about their job in style. It was an open and shut case as Kevin Kim (USA) and Jiri Vanek (Czech Republic) lost 3-6, 2-6 and gave the Indian-Swede combination their third final in four associations.

For Bjorkman this was his 34th final, while for Bhupathi it was his 24th. The chemistry between the two was hard to miss as all through their quick demolition job they joked, fooled around and after winning every point complimented each other.

The singles event too seemed to be going by the script as the big guns — Paradorn Srichaphan and Carlos Moya — took their appointed places in the semi-finals. With the form book vindicated so far in the tournament there seems little chance of Chennai’s Super Sunday being spoiled.

Srichaphan had it easy against Belgian Kristof Vliegen 6-3, 6-4 while Moya too didn’t have to exert much as he downed Frenchman Paul Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-4.

But for Moya the success was sweeter since it came against an opponent who had defeated him in the 2004 Davis Cup semi-finals in Alicante, Spain. ‘‘The Davis Cup loss hurt a lot. One of the lowest points in my career,’’ said Moya. And with a smile added, ‘‘I was waiting for this day.’’

Srichaphan too seemed pleased with the win. ‘‘It’s good to keep the winning streak going here. My first round match was tough as I was just getting back to top-level tennis after a two month break,’’ he said. The Thai star went on to add that he had improved with each match and would not take any opponent lightly. ‘‘Every match is tough and I must not let my guard down.’’

Moya’s semi-final opponent will be Guillermo Garcia Lopez, who ousted 2001 champion Michal Tabara of Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4, while Srichaphan will fight it out with Czech Tomas Zib in the other semi-final. Zib beat American Justin Gimelstob 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).