Paes-Damm through to semis in Cincinatti

Cincinati, Aug 18 (UNI) Leander Paes and his Czech partner Martin Damm advanced into the semifinals of the 2,450,000 dollar Western and Southern Financial Group Masters here, courtesy a mid-match retirement by Aussie-Zimbabwean combo of Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett.

In the quarter-finals, the fourth seeded Indo-Czech duo started of well, breaking Hanley-Ullyet pair's serve early in the first set to lead 5-3 before the fifth seeds called off the tie due to injury.

However, in the semi-finals a tough encounter is in the offing for Paes and Damm as they are up against top seeds 'Bryan Brothers' (Bob and Mike) of US, who charged into the last four scalping eight seeds Simon Aspelin (Sweden) and Julian Knowle (Austria) 7-6(2), 6-4 yesterday.

Incidentally, the Indo-Czech pair's record in finals this season stands at 2-3, winning in Rotterdam and ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, but lost out in Miami.

Meanwhile, the Bryans are chasing their ninth title of the season and second Cincinnati title -- the last one being in 2003.

UNI