Bhupathi-Bjorkman progress

Top seeds Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden beat the Belgian duo of Christophe Rochus and Tom Van Houdt 7-6 (8), 6-3, to progress to the quarter-finals of the doubles event of the ATP Tour Chennai Open tennis tournament at Chennai on Monday night.

In another doubles match, Mustafa Ghouse and Vishal Uppal, both wild cards, were outplayed by Ashley Fisher of Australia and Tripp Philips of the US 6-1, 6-2.

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Bhupathi and Bjorkman, exponents of backcourt play, were rather surprised by their Belgian rivals, who matched them for every point. However the experience of the top seeded pair enabled them garner vital points in the tie-breaker.

Even in the second set, the Belgians' coordination spelt danger to the fancied pair, even as Bhupathi tried to find his moorings with first time partner Bjorkman. The Swede adapted himself well to the situation, coming to Bhupathi's rescue from the back court often.

In other first round single matches, seventh seed Gregory Carraz of France made his exit, losing to unseeded Adrian Garcia of Chile in straight sets, 4-6, 3-6.

The 92nd ranked Carraz began his campaign on the right note, breaking Garcia in the very first game of the first set, but surrendered the initiative, conceding a break in the next.

Thereafter, the two players held serves till the 10th game. Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, the Frenchman was broken.

The second set was almost a repeat of the first as Garcia, who was broken in the third, fought back to claim the fourth game and level the scores.

Garcia, ranked 140 in the ATP list, went up in the eighth with a break and later served out for the match.

In other singles first round matches, Kristof Vliegen of Belgium quelled a strong challenge from Spaniard Santiago Ventura before notching up a 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, while Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez came from behind to script a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Dennis Van Scheppingen of The Netherlands.

Justin Gimelstob of the US advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-2, victory over compatriot Jan-Michael Gambil.