Bhupathi-Llodra reach Dubai final; Djokovic moves up

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 today.

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.