Hartford, US, Nov 21: Top seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes and fourth seeds Sebastien Lareau of Canada and American Alex O'Brien posted three-set victories to reach the final at the ATP Tour World Doubles Championship. Bhupathi and Paes advanced to their second final here in three years yesterday by rallying for a dramatic 5-7 6-2 7-5 victory over second seeds and two-time champions Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde of Australia.Lareau and O'Brien, the 1996 runners-up, dispatched sixth seeds Wayne Black of Zimbabwe and Sandon Stolle of Australia 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-3.The Indians were down a set and trailing 1-2 in the second but reeled off five straight games to force the deciding set. Both teams held serve until the 11th game, when Woodbridge double-faulted on break point to give the Indians a chance to serve out the match. Paes did just that as the Indian pair won for only the second time in six meetings with the Woodies.Lareau and O'Brien blew three match points in the second set before regroupingto win the final set. After an exchange of early breaks, Black lost his serve in the eighth game as Lareau and O'Brien took a 5-3 lead. The Canadian served out the match to earn a trip to Sunday's best-of-five sets final.Bhupathi and Paes have won 15 titles together, including this year's French Open and Wimbledon crowns and their homeland event in Chennai. This is their third straight appearance at the season-ending event.Overall, the Indians are 5-3 lifetime against Lareau and O'Brien.Lareau and O'Brien have won seven titles as a team, including three this season. They captured their first Grand Slam title together at the US Open, defeating Bhupathi and Paes 7-6 6-4 in the final. Three years ago, Lareau and O'Brien reached the final at the year-end event and lost to the Woodies.Woodforde and Woodbridge suffered their first loss of the week after going unbeaten in three round-robin matches. Winners of 53 career titles, the Aussies finished 1999 in the midst of their longest career title drought,failing to win an event after February. The total purse at this event is $900,000.
