Aisam and Bopanna in Nice semis

Pakistan’s Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna of India defeated the British duo of Fleming and Skupski 6-3,6-2 to make it through to the doubles semi-finals of the Nice Open where they will take on Czech Leos Friedle and Serbian Dusan Vemic for a place in the final.

Meanwhile, Unheralded Argentine Leonardo Mayer shocked fifth seed Marcos Baghdatis to advance to the semi-finals of the singles event. Mayer, ranked 59, needed three hours to get past the world number 29 from Cyprus 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Baghdatis becomes the sixth seed to fall here with top seeded Swede Robin Soderling going out on Wednesday, along with fourth seed Thomaz Belluci of Brazil, Spaniard Albert Montanes (six), Germany’s Michael Berrer (seven) and Pole Lukasz Kubot (eight).

Published in the Express Tribune, May 21st, 2010.