Bhupathi-Bopanna bow out of Wimbledon, Paes loses too
Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna lost 5-7, 6-7, 3-6 to Mikhael Elgin and Denis Istomin in their second round match yesterday to bow out from Wimbledon. Incidentally Leander Paes, with whom both Bhupathi and Bopanna had refused to play at the upcoming London Olympics, also lost in the men's doubles but he has another chance left in the mixed doubles event. Paes and Radek Stepanek began their third round match against Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo on Monday.
However, bad weather forced the suspension even as the fourth seeds were struggling to save the third set. They could not quite do that when play resumed yesterday but they managed to pip Dodig and Melo in the tiebreaker at the end of the fourth set. In the decider, both pairs held serve until rain again interrupted the match. After the long break, the 15th seeds seized the initiative to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 8-6.
Paes can still continue in the tournament if he and his partner Elena Vesnina win their second round match today.