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Prahlad Srinath in last four

C N R Vijaykumar in Bangkok

Davis Cupper Prahlad Srinath on Tuesday cruised into the semifinals of the men's tennis event at the 13th Asiad now on in Bangkok, with an upset win over second seeded Vadim Kutsenko of Uzbekistan.

Unfazed by the seeded Uzbek, Srinath served powerfully and earned points in crucial moments to win the encounter 6-4, 6-2.

He will now meet third seed Yoon Yong Li of Korea in the medal round. This ensures India a medal, as even a loss is worth a bronze at this point in the proceedings.

A charged-up Srinath with full vocal support from he other members of the Indian squad dropped only one game in the match - the seventh in the first set - and broke the Uzbek's service twice apiece, in each set.

Besides serving competently, he also played his drop shots well and exhibited better court craft that at times frustrated the Uzbek, who on one occasion even sought a confirmation from Srinath about the call of the linesman.

Srinath raced to an early 3-1 lead in the first set when he broke Kutsenko's service in the fourth game. However, the Uzbek recovered to level the score four all after breaking Srinath's serve in the seventh game, then holding his own in the next game.

From then on, the Indian not only served a couple of aces but also forced the pace of the game, to the confusion of the Uzbek.

In the tenth game, Kutsenko had a double fault and hit a good backhand return from Srinath into the net to enable the Indian clinch the first set 6-4.

The second set saw the game go the service way till 2-2. Srinath had an ace in each of his games though he double faulted once in the first game.

However in the fifth game, the Uzbek tried to come back into play with some good serves, powerful returns and a backhand volley. But Srinath put up a gutsy performance to take a 3-2 lead.

The next game had the Uzbek double fault twice with the score 15 all and 15-40, Srinath then returned a beautiful backhand that compelled Kutsenko commit an unforced error, enabling the Indian to take a 4-2 lead.

The seventh game saw Srinath in his elements as he won it at love with two aces, including one on the second service.

Kutsenko gave up the match in the next game as he double faulted for the second time after the game score read 30 all.

In the men's doubles, however, India suffered a double reverse with both pairs, Mahesh Bhupathi and Syed Fazaluddin, and Nitin Kirtane and Vijay Kannan, losing in straight sets.

Kirtane and Kannan lost to Chen Chih Jung and Bing Chao Lin of Chinese Taipei 4-6, 5-7 while Bhupathi and Fazaluddin went down fighting to Hyn Taik Lee and Yoon Yong-Il of Korea 5-7, 4-6.

In mixed doubles, however, the seeded pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Nirupama Vaidyanathan brought solace to the Indian camp when they moved into the semis, defeating the Japanese pair of Rika Hiraki and Takahiro Terachi 7-6, 6-3. Interesting, the dimunitive Hiraki was Bhupathi's partner when the two pulled off an upset, winning the 1997 French Open mixed doubles crown. The pairing then broke up, with Bhupathi feeling that Hiraki was too short in stature for his height.

Tomorrow, Bhupathi will figure in the singles quarters, raising another medal prospect. He will play Uzbeck Oleg Ondruska, whom Bhupathi had earlier beaten in the Asia Cup final recently.