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In a thrilling three-set match that stretched over two days, the world’s top men’s doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna to enter the semi-final of the French Open on Wednesday.
In a repeat of their triumph over the Indo-Pak Express at last year’s US Open final, the Bryan brothers emerged victorious with a 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 score.
The match, suspended due to bad light last night, resumed with the teams tied on a set apiece and 5-5 in the third and it didn’t take the Americans much time to wrap up the win. While Qureshi-Bopanna made it 6-5, their opponents drew level on their next serve. With the scores tied at 6-6, a super-tie break came into play wherein the top seeds raced to a 7-3 win.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the South Asian pair started the match brightly as they surprised the Americans with their swift serving and won the set 7-6 (7-2) in 45 minutes.
In the second set, the tide turned the Bryans’ way as made their comeback with a 6-3 win in a little over half hour and took the match into a decider.
The final set got underway with the Paris sun setting at Roland Garros, and as the two teams fought end to end, play was suspended at 5-5.
Seeded fifth at the year’s second grand slam, Qureshi and Bopanna made an impressive run on clay despite relatively lesser experience on the red surface. They will now turn their attention towards grass in preparation for Wimbledon, which begins June 20.
