NEW DELHI, Oct 5 (IANS): India's Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi came through a tough opening round to advance in the men's doubles event of China Open tennis in Beijing Wednesday. However, their compatriot Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi made a shock first round exit in the Japan Open men's doubles in Tokyo.
Fourth-seeded Paes and Bhupathi were stretched by local wild cards Mao-Xin Gong and Zhe Li before pulling off a 6-2, 3-6, 10-3 victory.
The 'Indian Express' broke serve three times to clinch victory in the match tie-break in 69 minutes.
They next play Croats Marin Cilic and Ivan Ljubicic.
Bhupathi and Paes are next in line to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November, and will look to add valuable points by reclaiming the Beijing title which they won in 1997.
Top-seeded Bopanna and Qureshi lost to Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares 6-4, 6-3 in 70 minutes at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
