Paes-Bhupathi in last eight

Shailesh Soni

French Open champions Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi moved into the quarter-finals of the $2.95 million Masters Series being played in Cincinnati, United States, on Thursday.

The sixth seeds defeated the American pair of Justin Gimelstob and Alex O'Brien 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the second round.

Paes/Bhupathi stared the first set well, securing the vital break in the third game. Thereafter games went with serve before the Indians took the set at 6-4.

In the second set, games went with serve till the fourth game, where the Indians made a couple of unforced errors as they dropped serve and fell behind. Paes/Bhupathi tried their best to stage a comeback by taking the Americans to duece twice, but were unable to return the break as the American pair took the set at 6-3 to level the match.

The third set saw some close games. The Indians wasted a break chance before breaking in the eighth game to go up 5-3. The Indians then served off the set to take the match.

The Indians will now face fourth seeds Jiri Novak and David Rikl in the quarter-finals. Novak and Rikl defeated Byron Black and Michael Hill 6-4, 6-4 in their second round match.

In other quarter-finals, top seed Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge will face Andrew Florent and Leyton Hewitt; the Bryan brothers will face David Prinosil and Martin Damm, and Nicolas Lapentti and Jeff Tarango will face Martin Garcia and Cyril Suk.

Earlier report:
Paes-Bhupathi beat Jensens