Bhupathi-Bopanna advance in Rome Masters

Rome: Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna entered the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters but it was curtains for Leander Paes and his Austrian partner Jurgen Melzer, here.

Sixth seed Indian combo of Bhupathi and Bopanna scored a 6-2 6-3 win over unseeded British team of Dominic Inglot and Jonathan Marray in the second round of the Euro 3,204,745 elite clay court tournament.

However, Paes and Melzer made an early exit after a close 6-7 (4) 6-7 (3) defeat against Mexico's Santiago Gonzalez and Scott Lipsky.

Bhupathi and Bopanna, who rejoined forces after splitting, next face unseeded Czech pair of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek.