Zeenews Bureau
New York: Fourth seeded pair of Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy stormed into the men’s doubles finals of US Open by upsetting top seed Bryan Brothers in a grueling three set encounter 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
The tournament which has already showed scant respect for seedings and reputations, lived up to the expectation with both the pairs fighting a gallant battle before the result settled in favour of the Indo-Czech pair.
A supporting crowd backed the home team but Bryan bothers surrendered against the rampaging Leander Paes, who played the volley like never before.
The deciding set itself lasted 55 minutes with Paes and Dlouhy wasting a match point in the 10th game off left-hander Bob's serve.
The Indo-Czech pair raced to a 5-0 lead in the tie-breaker, before Bob and Mike fought back. The Americans then saved four match points at 6-2 to draw level. Finally Paes and Dlouhy wrapped it up in their next match point with Paes showing great reflexes at the net and putting away a volley.
Paes and Dlouhy will meet the winner of the other semi-final between India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas and Andy Ram of Israel and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
First Published: Wednesday, September 09, 2009, 23:49