Leander Paes and Purav Raja were no match for Colombia's Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in the pre-quarter-finals of the men's doubles at the Australian Open on Sunday. The unseeded Indians were beaten 1-6, 2-6 by their 11th seeded opponents in 69 minutes.
Yuki Bhambri asserted his class over a promising Arjun Kadhe even as young Sumit Nagal's ATP World Tour debut ended in a tame defeat at the Tata Open Maharashtra in Pune on Tuesday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday.
India's doubles great Leander Paes has had 119 playing partners in his 27-year career and it appears his latest union could be a profitable one after he and compatriot Purav Raja knocked out former champions Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares on Saturday.
Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna have reached the quarter-finals of their respective events at the US Open but the fledgling partnership of Leander Paes and Purav Raja has fallen flat yet again.
Bringing in his wealth of experience, Leander Paes combined with debutant Purav Raja to keep India afloat by winning the do-or-die doubles rubber against Korea on Saturday, but it will take a super heroic effort to save the hosts from a defeat in the Davis Cup tie.
India's Leander Paes and Purav Raja sailed into the men's doubles second round in the duo's first outing at a Grand Slam but Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna crashed out of their respective events in the US Open.
For veteran Leander Paes, the team of rookies fighting it out against South Korea are already 'winners', simply because they resisted the 'temptation' of joining the rebels.
Croatia clinched a place in next year's World Cup finals on Sunday after holding Greece to a goalless draw at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium in Athens to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory in their playoff tie.
Sania, the country's finest woman doubles player, who began the year with the number one ranking, closed it at number 9.