Rohan Bopanna, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi enter Paris semi-finals

India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisamul Haq Qureshi have barged into the semi-finals at the BNP Paribas Masters, upsetting second-seeded Michael Llodra of France and Serbia’s Nenad Zimonzic in the super tie-break.

The Indo-Pakistani pair, seeded seventh, celebrated their maiden entry into the tour’s year-ending finals in London, by rallying to win after losing the first set, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6.

Bopanna and Qureshi, last year’s US Open finalists, will now play third-seeded Maxi Mirnyi of Belarus and Bahamas’ Daniel Nestor who beat Austria’s Oliver Marach and Alexander Peya in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7).

The two other Indians in doubles play, fourth-seeded Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were beaten in the second round, having received a bye in the first, in the super tiebreak 10-8.

Paes and Bhupathi have also made it to the London Tour year-ender as one of the top pairs.