Australian Open: Paes-Bhupathi in men’s doubles final

India’s Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi stayed on course for the maiden Australian Open tennis title as they made it to the men’s doubles final with a hard-fought win over Belarussian Max Mirnyi and Canada’s Daniel Nestor here Thursday.

The third seeded Indian pair, who are playing together after nine years, won 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 against the second seeded pair in the semifinals.

In the final, the India duo will face the top seeded pair of Bryan Brothers of the US.

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan won 6-3, 6-2 against American Eric Butorac and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherland Antilles in the other semi-final.