MELBOURNE – Reunited Indian stars Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes came through a tight Australian Open semi Thursday to set up a final with hattrick-chasing American twins Bob and Mike Bryan. The Indians, seeded third and making their Grand Slam comeback after splitting in 2002, beat Belarusian Max Mirnyi and Canadian Daniel Nestor 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3 to reach their second Australian Open final.
Bhupathi and Paes’s previous final appearance was way back in 1999, when they lost to Swede Jonas Bjorkman and Australian Pat Rafter. The last of their three major titles came at the 2001 French Open.
