Indian pride dented at French Open
Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes suffered unexptected defeats in different events at the French Open Grand Slam on Saturday.
Indian pride was dented at the French Open Grand Slam tennis with Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes suffering unexptected defeats in different events in Paris on Saturday.
In an event that has witnessed the seeded players tumble out in the first week, Bhupathi and Russia's Elena Likhovtseva, top seeds in the mixed doubles, were knocked out by Els Callens of Belgium and Argentine Sebastian Prieto 7-5, 6-3 in the first round.
Paes advanced to the second round of the mixed doubles with Martina Navratilova but crashed out of the men's doubles with Czech Republic partner David Rikl.
Paes and American legend Navratilova, sixth seeds, breezed past Spaniard Magui Serna and Martin Rodgriguez of Argentina 6-3, 6-2 into the second round.
But Paes, who won the men's doubles title at Roland Garros twice with Bhupathi in 1999 and 2001, failed to see the second week in the men's doubles as he and Rikl were overwhelmed by Argentine duo Juan Ignacio Chela and Gaston Gaudo 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
In the junior championships beginning today, Karan Rastogi has been seeded 12 in boys' singles and will play home challenge Jonathan Dasnieres.
Other Indians in the junior event include Divij Sharan taking on Miles Kasiri of Great Britain and Tushar Liberhan facing another Briton Jammie Murray.