London, June 24 (IANS) India’s doubles players, barring Somdev Devvarman, flourished at Wimbledon as seeded stars Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won their opening round matches with their partners and so did Sania Mirza.
Bhupathi and his Belarusian partner Mark Mirnyi, seeded fourth, won in straight sets, but not before tough first and third sets, against Argentine pair Maximo Gonzalez and Sebatian Prieto, 7-5, 6-1, 7-5, Thursday.
Third seeds Paes and his Czech partner Dlouhy beat Rik de Voest of South Africa and German Mischa Zever 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3, late Wednesday and they were joined by another Indian Rohan Bopanna, along with Pakistani Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, beating his Davis Cup teammate Somdev Devvarman and Treat Conrad Huey of the Philippines in four sets, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Sania and her Danish partner Caroline Wozniacki won their women’s doubles first round against British pair Anne Keethavong and Melanie South, 6-4, 6-1.
–Indo-Asian news Service
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