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Paes-Damm cruise into 3rd round

January 19, 2007 19:19 IST

Fifth seeds Leander Paes and Martin Damm made their experience count as they romped into the doubles third round at the Australian Open.

The Indo-Czech pair downed Australia's Nathan Healey and Robert Smeets 6-4, 6-2 in a second round match on Friday.

Paes-Damm will next meet the French pair of Nicholas Mahut and and Julien Benneteau, who ousted the 11th seeds Simon Aspelin and Chris Haggard 6-3, 7-5.

Earlier, Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza also made it to the pre-quarterfinals of the women's doubles. She and Spanish partner Anabel Medina Garrigues beat Russia's Ekaterina Bychkova and Martina Muller of Germany 6-3, 6-4.