Australian Open: Rohan Bopanna Triumphs, Mahesh Bhupathi Exits on Mixed Day for India

Rohan Bopanna and Daniel Nestor were tested before making it to the second round even as Mahesh Bhupathi and his partner Jurgen Melzer crashed out of men's doubles event of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday. (Aus Open Day 4 wrap: Sluggish Serena joins rampant Djokovic in Round 3)

Bopanna and Canada's Nestor, seeded seventh, fought off a spirited challenge from Marcos Baghdatis and Marinko Matosevic 7-6 (2) 7-5 in their opening round in one hour and 46 minutes. There was not much to differentiate between the two teams as they hit an equal number of aces (10) and committed same number of double faults (5). (Wawrinka dodges Romanian rockets to progress)

Bopanna and Nestor won 87 points, only eight more than their rivals. They will next take on Spaniard Feliciano Lopez and Belarusian Max Mirnyi, who got the better of Australia's James Duckworth and Luke Saville 7-6 (1) 6-7(5) 6-2 in their first round match. Earlier, Bhupathi and Austrian partner Melzer suffered a 4-6 3-6 defeat against Argentine team of Diego Schwartzman and Horacio Zeballos in only 67 minutes. (Djokovic blasts into Round 3)

Bhupathi continues to struggle in his comeback as he returned to on court action after a nine-month break during which he set up IPTL. He played his first tournament at Chennai Open where he had lost in the second round with compatriot Saketh Myneni. Bhupathi and Melzer committed a staggering 27 unforced errors to just nine of their opponents, who served extremely well. (Vintage Venus Williams canters into third round)

The first set was a close affair with both team holding serve till the ninth game. Bhupathi was terrific at the net, specially with his wristy drop volleys. (Ruthless Radwanska eases through)

The 6 feet 2 inch Zeballos was serving bombs and his service made a big difference to the outcome of the match. On Melzer's serve, the Austrian and Bhupathi saved the first two but Melzer sent a forehand to net on the third chance and threw his raquet in frustration.

In an ominous start to the second set, Bhupathi was broken in the second game. Schwartzman hit a service winner to make it deuce and the Indian only helped the rivals by double faulting, which put them down by a break point.

The Argentines got the break thanks to an unforced error by Bhupathi. Schwartzman served solid to make it 3-0. Bhupathi and Melzer had a chance to get that break back on Zeballos' serve but the tall southpaw yet again came up with big serves to save both. In just 19 minutes they had a commanding 4-1 lead.

Bhupathi and Melzer held their serves after that but the lead stayed with the Argentines and they easily pocketed the set and match. Bhupathi's forehand went wide to hand the Argentines two match points and they converted first when a double-handed backhand by the Indian kissed the net.

Rohan Bopanna and his Canadian partner Daniel Nestor will open their campaign against Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus and Marinko Matosevic from Australia.