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Bhupati-Lucic in Wimbledon semis

India number two Mahesh Bhupathi and Mirjana Lucic, the Croatian teen sensation, stormed into the semifinal of the mixed doubles event at Wimbledon.

However, India’s other hope Leander Paes, partnering Larissa Neiland of Latvia and top seeded in the event, was beaten in straight sets earlier in the day.

The Bhupati-Lucic pair had a tough struggle, against Australian duo Wayne Arthurs and Kerry-Anne Guse. The fifth seeds finally prevailed, 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-3.

This is the first time Bhupathi, who last year won the French Open in tandem with Rika Hiraki of Japan, has paired up with Lucic, touted as one of the rising stars of the teen brigade. Bhupathi broke up his pairing with Hiraki after poor performances at last year's Wimbledon and US Open.

The Paes-Neiland duo, however, just didn't have what it took to stop unseeded Americans Justin Gimelstob and Venus Williams, losing 3-6, 4-6.

The defeat was not without its share of irony. Paes lost in the first round of the men's singles, but his seedings indicated that he was expected to last the course in both versions of the doubles championships. His pairing with Bhupathi is ranked third in the world, while his partnership with Larissa Neiland was ranked first both at the French Open, and here at Wimbledon.

In the men's doubles event, however, the ace Indian pair went down to the pairing of Justin Gimelstob and Brian MacPhie in the second round.

He went further in the mixed doubles -- but guess who proves his nemesis? Gimelstob again -- this time pairing with the photogenic Venus Williams.

To add to the irony, it is the Gimelstob-Williams pairing that Bhupathi and Lucic, who appear to have a certain on-court synergy, will go up against in the semifinals. A good opportunity for Bhupathi to obtain a revenge that is pending on two counts -- or for Gimelstob to extend his dominance over two Indians who have made a niche for themselves at the highest levels of doubles competition.