Paes-Bhupathi in SFs; Woodies chopped out

The Indians, who took two of three matches in the round-robin, hold a 2-1 advantage against Lareau and O’ Brien, including a win in the Paris final two weeks ago.

Despite needing just one set to secure the last semi-final spot, the Aussies crashed out of the tournament. Lareau and O’Brien swept two sets, avenging a loss in last year’s final. They are 2-6 against the Woodies’ who failed to advance to the final for the first time in seven years.

Meanwhile, second seeds Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands defeated third seeds Ellis Ferreira of South Africa and Patrick Galbraith of the United States, 7-6, (7/1), 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.

The Dutchmen, who have won 30 doubles titles to rank eighth all-time, are seeking their first World Championship since 1993. They have competed in five consecutive season-ending events.

Eltingh and Haarhuis are the only team to go through the round robin undefeated. They became the first team to secure a spot in the semi-finals following their straight-set victory over the fifth-seeded Indian duo of Bhupathi and Paes.

Fourth-seeded Americans Rick Leach and Jonathan Stark downed eighth-seeded countrymen Donald Johnson and Francisco Montana 6-3, 6-4 to clinch a spot in the semi-finals.