Paes, Bhupathi in semi-finals

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, playing with new partners, entered the semi-finals of the US $550,000 Thailand Open, in Bangkok, on Friday.

Paes and Paul Hanley of Australia, the top seeds in the tournament, advanced after beating local favourites Paradorn Srichapan and Danai Udomchoke 6-4, 6-4 in their quarter-finals.

Bhupathi and his American partner Justin Gimelstob defeated the South African pairing of Jeff Coetzee and Chris Haggard 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the last four, at the Impact Arena in the Thai capital.

The other semi-final pits the Israeli team of Jonathan Elrich and Andy Ram against Simon Aspelin of Sweden and Australia's Todd Perry.