New Delhi, July 04: Mahesh Bhupathi, teaming up with Max Mirnyi of Belarus, extracted revenge from his estranged partner, defeating Leander Paes and David Rikl of Czech Republic on his way to the final of the men's doubles at Wimbledon today. In a reversal of their quarter-final result at the French Open last month, top seeds Bhupathi and Mirnyi defeated Paes and Rikl, the fifth seeds, 6-7 (6/8) 6-4 7-6 (9/7) 6-3 in a keenly contested semi-final on court one.
Winners of three doubles titles together and world's number one doubles pair at one time, Paes and Bhupathi have split over personal differences and now play with different partners. Bhupathi has now set himself on course for his eighth grand slam victory, having already won four doubles and three mixed doubles titles.
In the final, Bhupathi and Mirnyi will take on the fourth seeded team of Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Todd Woodbridge of Australia. Bjorkman and Woodbridge had earlier defeated the Israeli pair of Johanthan Elrich and Andy Ram 6-2 4-6 6-2 6-1 in the first semi-final. Bureau Report