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Sania, Bopanna bow out in doubles

Last updated on: January 21, 2008 19:48 IST

India's Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna fell by the wayside at the Australian Open on Monday.

Images: Day 8

Sixth seeds Sania and Alicia Molik of Australia lost 5-7, 3-6 to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Israel's Shahar Peer, seeded 12th, in the third round of women's doubles.

Sania is still in the running in the mixed doubles event with Mahesh Bhupathi. The Indian duo face a tough task against second seeds USA's Lisa Raymond and Simon Aspelin of Sweden on Tuesday

Bopanna and Rajeev Ram's winning run at the Grand Slam ended when they were beaten in the third round of the men's doubles.

The Indo-US pair, which had scalped fifth seeds Leander Paes and Australian partner Paul Hanley 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) on Sunday, lost to Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie of South Africa 6-3, 4-6, 3-6.

But the Indian challenge in the men's doubles stayed alive, as Mahesh Bhupathi and partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas advanced to the quarter-finals, beating Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland. The sixth seeds won 6-3, 6-2.

They will take on the top seeded brother duo of Bob and Mike Bryan next.