French Open: Bhupathi-Bopanna ousted in the first round

A file photo of Indian duo Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna

Indian doubles duo Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna were ousted in the first round of the men’s doubles event in Paris. The Polish team of Tomasz Bednarek and Jerzy Janowicz upset their fourth seeded opponents 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 17 minutes to advance to the second round. Bhupathi, who is in his last year on tour, and his partner Bopanna had no answer to the power of Janowicz, who propelled his team to victory.

The Indians were never allowed to assert themselves in the match as Janowicz and Bednarek broke in the third game of the first set to take the early lead. Mahesh and Rohan converted their only opportunity of the match to draw level at 4-4. The Indians fell behind 15-40 in the eleventh game and the Poles took advantage on the second break point.

Janowicz and Bednarek, who had also reached the second round of the Australian Open this year, took their first set point to drive home the advantage. The problems deepened for Mahesh and Rohan when they were broken in the first game of the second set. The Polish duo won a prolonged twelve-point game after three deuces to take control of the contest.

The Indians were struggling to make an impact on their opponents’ serve. With the break already in the bag, Janowicz and Bednarek cruised to victory in the tenth game on their first match point. Bhupathi and Bopanna will stay on in Paris for the mixed doubles event.

Earlier yesterday, Leander Paes and Jurgen Melzer needed less than an hour to seal their spot in the second round. The Indo-Austrian duo defeated Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Renavand 6-3, 6-3 in quick time to advance to the next round. Leander is also playing the mixed doubles event where he is paired with Jelena Jankovic.