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Paes and Bhupathi enter title round

— Photo: AFP

ON A ROLL: Nadia Petrova overcame Samantha Stosur in the semifinals of the Eastbourne International Open.

s’Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands): Second seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi rallied to beat Argentines Guillermo Canas and Juan-Martin Del Potro in a fierce contest to advance to the finals of the Ordina Open tennis tournament here on Friday.

Paes and Bhupathi beat Canas and Potro 6-7(6), 6-3, 10-7 in a marathon battle lasting more than one and a half hour.

In the finals, the Indians will face off against the Croat-Austrian pair of Mario Ancic and Jurgen Melzer, who beat the Belgian-French duo of Steve Darcis and Marc Gicquel 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in the other semifinal.

Petrova beats Stosur

Nadia Petrova defeated Australia’s Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-3 on Friday to reach the final of the Eastbourne International Women’s Open.

It will be Petrova’s first final since Los Angeles in August, and she is seeking her first title since winning the Paris indoor event in February last year.

“I realise that I now have a great chance to finally win a title on grass,” said Petrova, holder of seven WTA titles on all other surfaces.

“But it’s really looking good for me now, I’d love to get a victory on grass.”

Rain delay

The match was delayed by rain and was interrupted at 3-3 in the first set.

When play restarted, Petrova broke when she forced an error with a strong service return before another 30-minute rain delay.

In the second set, Petrova fought off two break points in the opening game and again at 3-3, before breaking Stosur at love.

She clinched the win with her fourth ace.

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska denied 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli a second career final on grass with a 7-5, 6-3 win.

Radwanska, who won the Pattaya and Istanbul titles this year, will aim to complete a 2008 hat-trick when she faces Petrova.

Karlovic in final

Defending champion Ivo Karlovic reached the Nottingham Open final after a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) win against Gael Monfils on Friday. Karlovic will face Fernando Verdasco who defeated Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1.

Monfils faces a race against time to be fit for Wimbledon after revealing he is struggling with a shoulder injury

The results: At Nottingham: ATP Slazenger Open: Ivo Karlovic bt Gael Monfils 7-6(4), 7-6(4); Fernando Verdasco bt Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1.

At ‘s-Hertogenbosch: Ordina Open: Men: Semifinals: David Ferrer bt Juan Martin Del Potro; 7-6(4), 6-1; Marc Gicquel bt Guillermo Canas 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Doubles: Semifinals: Leander Paes & Mahesh Bhupathi bt Guillermo Canas & Juan-Martin Del Potro 6-7(6), 6-3, 10-7; Mario Ancic & Jurgen Melzer bt Steve Darcis & Marc Gicquel 7-6(2), 7-6(2).

Women: Semifinals: Dinara Safina bt Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2; Tamarine Tanasugarn bt Alona Bondarenko 6-2, 6-4.

At Eastbourne: WTA Eastbourne International Open: Semifinals: Nadia Petrova bt Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-3; Agnieszka Radwanska bt Marion Bartoli 7-5, 6-3. — Agencies

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