Country mates and experienced mixed doubles performers Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi of India stormed past the Czech entry of Iveta Benesova and Lukas Diouhy 6-4, 6-1 in a semi-final match at Melbourne. Mirza and Bhupathi will play France’s Nathalie Dechy and Israel’s Andy Ram who disposed of Spaniards Anabel Medina Garriques and Tommy Robredo 7-6, 6-4 in the other tight, hard-fought semi-final.

This marks the second consecutive year the pretty Mirza has advanced to the Australian Open Mixed Doubles finals with Bhupathi, who boasts 4 Grand Slam doubles titles and has been a runner-up twice. Both players are primarily known as doubles specialists. After a disappointing 2008 season, Mirza is playing with confidence with the seasoned Bhupathi directing the show. Bhupathi is teamed with Mark Knowles in the Men’s finals and has reached the finals against the Bryan brothers.

Bhupathi and Mirza started slowly against Benevosa and Douchy trailing 3-0 before getting their bearings. In the fourth game Mirza made two paralyzing volleys and India’s finest were on their way to victory. Bhupathi began to anticipate the Czech team’s angles and intercepted many shots at the net. Mirza was efficient at playing aggressive mid-court strokes.

The match was completed in less than an hour with the second set taking just 22 minutes. With the Australian summer bearing down, short matches are at a premium in Melbourne.

Dechy and Ram’s semi-final victory was considerably more challenging. Each Dechy-Ram salvo was answered by Medina and Robredo’s brilliant play. The first set tiebreaker went to 9-7. Both teams had multiple chances to win the set. The longer the set went on, the more it seemed the winner of set one would win the match.

Israel’s Ram is a proven doubles player and his serve was the difference in the match. The ninth game in the second set was pivotal as Dechy and Ram broke Medina’s serve with a series of solid returns and aggressive net play.

The mixed doubles finals will feature two of the games great male doubles players and two graceful women. The woman who can control her net play, will most likely signal the victory. Either way, the mixed finals shapes up to be a beautiful match.