Bhupathi-Sania enter mixed final

Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza advanced to the final of the mixed doubles at the Australian Open by knocking over eighth seeds Nathalie Dechy of France and Andy Ram of Israel in straight sets.

The Indian duo beat Dechy-Ram 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-final in Melbourne on Friday.

While Bhupathi has won 10 Grand Slam titles in doubles, it is the first major final for Sania.

Bhupathi-Sania will meet fifth seeds China's Tiantian Sun and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia in the title clash.

Sun-Zimonjic beat Zi Yan-Mark Knowles, seeded third, 4-6, 7-5, 10-6 in the second semi-final.

In boy's singles, Delhi lad Yuki Bhambri went down fighting to top Australian junior Bernard Tomic in the semi-final.

Bhambri's fightback in the second set went in vain as he lost 6-0, 5-7, 6-1 to the fifth seed.