Leander Paes [ Images ] and Czech Republic's Martin Damm [ Images ] went down in the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup after losing the semi-finals to third seeds Simon Aspelin of Sweden and Austria's Julian Knowle in straight sets in Shanghai on Saturday.

The Indo-Czech pair, seeded fourth in the event, were beaten 6-4, 6-4 as Aspelin and Knowle advanced to a title showdown with top seeds Mark Knowles [ Images ] of Bahamas and Canadian Daniel Nestor [ Images ].

Knowles and Nestor beat second seeds Paul Hanley [ Images ] of Australia [ Images ] and Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyet 6-3, 6-7(8), 10-5 to make it to Sunday's final at the Qi Zhong Stadium.