Paes-Damm bow out of Shanghai semis

Leander Paes and Czech Republic's Martin Damm went down in the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup after losing the semi-finals to third seeds Simon Aspelin of Sweden and Austria's Julian Knowle in straight sets in Shanghai on Saturday.

The Indo-Czech pair, seeded fourth in the event, were beaten 6-4, 6-4 as Aspelin and Knowle advanced to a title showdown with top seeds Mark Knowles of Bahamas and Canadian Daniel Nestor.

Knowles and Nestor beat second seeds Paul Hanley of Australia and Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyet 6-3, 6-7(8), 10-5 to make it to Sunday's final at the Qi Zhong Stadium.