On course for a second successive Australian Open title, defending champions Leander Paes and Martina Navratilova advanced to the final of mixed doubles at the season's first Grand Slam at Melbourne on Friday.

Paes and the legendary Navratilova, the fourth seeds, defeated Jonathan Erlich of Israel and Liezel Huber of South Africa in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the finals.

The duo will now take on Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Elena Bovina of Russia who beat Martin Rodriguez of Argentina and Rita Grande of Italy 6-3, 7-6(8/6) in the other semifinal.