Wimbledon: Good outing for India in doubles

Experienced Indian doubles pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi survived a scare to reach the second round of the men’s double on Friday.

The third seeded Indian pair registered a hard-fought 6-7(7) 6-4 6-4 victory over Croatian combo of Ivan Dodig and Lovro Zovko in the opening round. Somdev Devvarman and his Japanese partner Kei Nishikori also crossed the first hurdle and advanced to the second round with a 6-7(3), 6-3 6-2 win over German duo of Rainer Schuettler and Alexander Waske.

In women’s doubles, Sania Mirza and her Russian partner Elena Vesnina reached the pre-quarterfinals after triumphing in three sets over Czech Renata Voracova and Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan. The fourth seeded Indo-Russian pair defeated the Czech-Kazakhstan combination 6-3 5-7 6-4.

On Thursday, Somdev became lost in the second round in men’s singles to Mikhail Youzhny. The Russian won 6-2 6-4 6-4. It was 68th ranked Somdev’s second straight defeat to Youzhny, who had got the better of him in the Davis Cup World Group tie at Moscow last year.