Paes-Bhupathi go down

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi's challenge in the Monte Carlo Masters doubles came to an end on Saturday after they were beaten by the top seeded world No. 1-ranked pair of Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge in the semi-finals.

The Indians, for whom it was their semi-final appearance at a Masters Series since making it to the semi-finals at Indian Wells in March 1999, lost 3-6, 2-6.

Bjorkman and Woodbridge will meet sixth seeds Joshua Eagle and Andrew Florent of Australia, who got the better of Jaime Oncins/Daniel Orsanic in the other semi-final 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.

In the singles event, Hicham Arazi became the first Moroccan to reach the final of the Monte Carlo Masters after a comprehensive 6-4, 6-4 victory over ninth-seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.

The world number 53 followed up Friday's three-set victory over eighth-seeded Briton Tim Henman with a workmanlike triumph over the Australian Open semi-finalist.

He meets Brazilian second seed Gustavo Kuerten in Sunday's final after the French Open champion outclassed Argentina's Guillermo Coria 6-4, 6-2 in the second semi-final in just 68 minutes.

Kuerten, champion here in 1999, never looked troubled by 19-year-old Coria, playing only his second Masters Series tournament, and won in routine fashion.

He said: "This was my best match of the year... and it should be a great final against Arazi."

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