Mahesh Bhupathi reached the first final of the season with French partner Michael Llodra after overcoming a fighting pair of Rohan Bopanna and Rajeev Ram in the Dubai Tennis Championships, in Dubai on Friday.

Unseeded Bhupathi and Llodra got past India's Bopanna and Americam Ram 6-4 6-7 (2) 10-5 in the first semifinal, lasting one hour and 28 minutes.

Bhupathi and Llodra now face third seeds Robert Lindstedt and Nenand Zimonjic, who pipped Mikhail Youzhny and Jonathan Erlich 7-6 (2) 7-6 (2).

Meanwhile in the singles, top seeded Novak Djokovic beat Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3, 7-6 (4) to reach the final.

Berdych edges out Federer in Dubai
Dubai: Tomas Berdych saved three match points on his way to beating titleholder Roger Federer 3-6 7-6 6-4 in the Dubai Championships semi-finals on Friday, setting up a showdown with world number one Novak Djokovic in Saturday's final.

Federer surged from 5-2 down in the second set but then fluffed three match points in the tiebreak before Czech Berdych forced a deciding set with a bludgeoned return winner.