Bhupathi Bopanna boost Olympic chances by reaching Madrid semis

Indians Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna boosted their chances of entering the top 10 rankings in doubles as the duo reached the semi finals of the ATP Madrid Open Masters Series event.

The seventh seeded duo beat Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer 7-6(2), 7-6(5) on Friday to reach the last four. It was the first time that Bopanna and Qureshi were squaring off since their split at the end of last year.

Bopanna is currently ranked no. 12 while Bhupathi is ranked no. 15 in the doubles rankings. The duo need to be in the top 10 to ensure qualification for the Olympic doubles event. With Leander Paes already in the top 10, if all three finish in the top 10, it could mean that India would get two slots in the men’s doubles event.

The Indian duo will meet sixth seeds and two-time Wimbledon finalists Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau, who beat Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 7-5, 7-6(5).

Paes and Czech partner Radek Stepanek were beaten meanwhile. Second seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor beat the fifth seeded Australian Open champions 6-3, 6-7(2), 10-2 for their first victory over the Indian-Czech team in three meetings.

Mirnyi and Nestor will take on Poles Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, who defeated Marin Cilic and Marcelo Melo 7-5, 6-2.