PTI

Melbourne, Jan 27: Hopes of another Leander Paes vs Mahesh Bhupathi match up went out of the window after the former, partnerning Nathalie Dechy of France, bowed out in the mixed doubles semifinals at the Australian Open here on Friday.

Paes and Dechy ended up on the wrong side of the super tie-breaker in the third set and went down 6-3 4-6 4-10 to sixth seeds Daniel Nestor of Canada and Russian Elena Likhovtseva.

Bhupathi, however, gave the Indian fans a lot to cheer as he kept himself on road for a third mixed doubles crown on the trot after reaching the final with Martina Hingis.

The Indian doubles star and the 25-year-old 'Swiss Miss' defeated the fifth seeded home contenders Paul Hanley and Samantha Stosur 6-3 6-3.

Bhupathi had won the title at Wimbledon and the US Open last year with Mary Pierce and Daniela Hantuchova, respectively, last year.

Paes and Dechy played a percentage game. They had less unforced errors (three against four) and more winners (14 to 10) than their rivals.

And both the teams had equal number of breaks, two.

But Nestor and Likhovtseva played to perfection the super tie-breaker where the team reaching 10 points first wins the match.

Paes is in line for the men's doubles title though.

In the summit clash tomorrow, Paes and Czech Republic's Martin Damm take on the top seeded Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, of the US.