Australian Open: Leander Paes-Andre Sa knocked out in doubles first round

Leander Paes and partner Andre Sa lost 6-4, 6-7, 4-6 to Max Mirnyi and Treat Huey in the first round of the men's doubles event at the Australian Open. Paes is also playing in the mixed doubles event, partnering Martina Hingis.

Leander Paes and Brazil’s Andre Sa crashed out of the men’s doubles event of the Australian Open, after losing 6-4, 6-7, 4-6 to Max Mirnyi and Treat Huey in the first round on Thursday.

Leander Paes and partner Andre Sa lost in three sets in the Australian Open men’s doubles first round on Thursday. (PTI)

Paes and Sa secured a crucial break in the fifth game of the opening set to go 3-2 up and then held on to the lead to take the set 6-4.

Neither team secured a break in the second, which went into a tiebreak, in which Paes-Sa lost serve thrice, conceding the set and taking the match into a decider.

Tenth seeds Mirnyi-Huey secured a break in the seventh game of the third set, holding on to the lead to see out the set 6-4 and advance to the next round.

Paes is still in contention in mixed doubles. He and partner Martina Hingis will face Australian pair of Destanee Aiava and Marc Polmans in the first round on Friday.