Bhupathi-Knowles in Madrid quarter-finals

MADRID: India's Mahesh Bhupathi and his Bahamian partner Mark Knowles entered the quarter-final of the Madrid Masters tennis tournament after local favourites Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya withdrew from their second round match.

Fourth seeds Bhupathi and Knowles were to play Nadal and Moya Wednesday afternoon, but were given a walkover after world number one Nadal complained of a pain in his lower back.     

Bhupathi and Knowles are yet to play a match in the tournament as they were given a bye in the first round.
 
They will play the winners of the match between Argentinians Lucas Arnold Ker and David  Nalbandian and sixth-seeded Simon  Aspelin of Sweden  and   Julian  Knowle of Austria.

Third-seeded pair of Leander Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy, who were also given a first round bye, will take on Spaniards Pablo Andujar and  Marcel Granollers in the second round on Thursday.