INDIAN WELLS (USA), March 11 (PTI): Leander Paes notched up the 600th doubles win of his career when he and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek progressed to the pre-quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Masters here.
Seventh seeds Paes and Stepanek outplayed unseeded Spaniards David Ferrer and Albert Ramos 6-3, 6-3 in their opening round. However, fifth seeds Bhupathi and Bopanna, who had recently won Dubai Open, lost 4-6, 3-6 to Julien Benneteau and Jo-wilfried Tsonga in their first round match.
Paes and Stepanek, the Australian Open champions, await winners of the other first round match between the pairs of Eric Butorac and Bruno Soares and Juan Monaco and Kei Nishikori.
Paes and Stepanek converted six of their eight break point opportunities for victory in 67 minutes. The Indian, who turned pro in 1991 and will be 39 on 17 June, has a 600-311 record overall. Paes won the 2007 Indian Wells title with Martin Damm.
