Paes-Stepanek make winning start in Miami Masters

Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek laboured their way to the pre-quarterfinals of the Miami Masters after downing Marcos Baghdatis and Sam Querrey.

The seventh seeded Indo-Czech pair overcame their opponents 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the opening round of the USD 3,973,050 hard-court event.

Saving breakpoints was key to Paes and Stepanek's win as they saved six in the match while converting five of the seven chances they got.

Paes and Stepanek will now fight it out with Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins for a place in the quarter-finals.

India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna are also in the fray. They have been seeded sixth and will open their campaign against Austria's Jurgen Melzer and Briton Jamie Murray.