LONDON: Indian doubles duo Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes booked their place in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a shock 6-4, 6-2 win over top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan.
Bhupathi and Paes, who are ending their partnership after this tournament, knew only a victory over the world’s top doubles pairing would be enough to guarantee their last four spot and they rose to the occasion in impressive fashion at London’s O2 Arena.
An early break in the first set boosted the Indians’ belief they could defeat the American duo, who were already certain of making the semifinals.
Bhupathi and Paes, who also beat the Bryans when they last met in Cincinnati earlier this year, were able to hold onto their advantage to take the first set.
The Bryan brothers have won this event three times and have just finished top of the doubles rankings for a record seventh time in nine years.
But they were no match for the inspired Indians who secured a crucial break in the first game and landed another to take complete control before serving out a superb victory.
Bhupathi and Paes are competing together in this prestigious end-of-season event for the first time in 10 years after renewing their successful partnership, which brought them a host of titles in the 1990s.
They had originally planned to play at next year’s London Olympics, but it was confirmed this week that Bhupathi will partner Rohan Bopanna at the Chennai Open which opens the new season.
The Indian-Express duo will face Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski in the semifinals of the Tour Finals in London on Saturday. (Agencies)