Bhupathi-Sania book semi final berth in mixed doubles

Melbourne, Jan 22 (UNI) Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza kept Indian challenge alive as hard work and luck smiled on them enabling the pair to storm into the semi-finals of the mixed doubles event at the Australian Open here today.

The unfancied Indian duo stunned second seeded pair of Simon Aspelin and Lisa Raymond, 6-3 2-6 10-7 and then luck smiled on them with seventh seeded Czechs Martin Damm and Kveta Peschke giving them a walk over in the quarter finals.

In the boys' singles, eighth seed Yuki Bhambri also remained in contention as he staged a superb comeback after losing first set to overpower Slovakia's Zalan Klempa 3-6 6-4 6-2 and will now face Japan's Tadayuki Loughi in the pre-quarterfinals.

However, another Indian Karunuday Singh lost to Chinese Taipei's Tsung-Hua-Yang 6-7 (4-7) 4-6.

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