TheSportsCampus

Leander Paes produced the perfect way to celebrate India's Republic Day down under by advancing to the Men's Doubles Final and Mixed Doubles Semi-finals at 2012 Australian Open.

Teaming up with Czech veteran Radek Stepanek for the first time since 2004, the Indian tennis legend grafted out a come from behind three set win against the no.2 seeds Daniel Nestor and Max Mirnyi, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. In a glorious tennis career that has spanned over two decades, Leander has won 6 Grand Slam men's doubles titles, but never the Australian Open. Stepanek meanwhile is chasing his maiden Grand Slam title.

If Leander and Radek are to be crowned champions, they will have done it the hard way, as standing in their path are arguably the greatest doubles pairing of all-time, the Bryan Brothers. The top seeds narrowly squeezed into the final on the back of a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) win against the 7th seeded pairing of Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau.

The men's doubles final will be played on Saturday night at Rod Laver Arena after the women's singles final.

Before that match, Leander will switch his attention to the mixed doubles semi-finals tomorrow where he partners Russian Elena Vesnina. Seeded 5th, the Indo-Russian duo will face off against the Italian pairing of Roberta Vinci and Daniele Bracciali. Leander and Elena beat the 4th seeded Indo-American pair of Rohan Bopanna and Lisa Raymond rather convincingly 6-2, 6-2 earlier today.