Athens: Having put themselves within sniffing distance of an Olympic medal, India's star tennis pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi is determined to go the whole distance, saying they have the experience to handle the pressure of big matches.

The Indians had no difficulty in disposing off the fourth seeded pair of Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe with a straight set victory in the quarterfinals yesterday (Aug 18, 2004) and will now take on the unseeded pair of Nicholas Kiefer and Rainer Schuettler of Germany in the semi-finals later today (Aug 19, 2004) at the Olympic Tennis Centre.

The two estranged friends have shown glimpses of their old magic and have not lost serve in the three matches they have played so far.

"We have been through very tough situations, down match points but we have recovered well. I think we are ready. We just have to continue playing the way we have done," Bhupathi said.

When Paes was asked whether he felt an additional pressure since he had won a bronze in the Atlanta Games in 1996, the seasoned campaigner shot back "pressure, what pressure. I have been there for so many years, done that. I love pressure situations as it brings the best in me."

"It is a team out here, it is not about me, and it is about us. We love to keep each other happy," Paes said.