Bhupathi-Knowles in doubles quarters,Sania,Paes,Bopanna out

Melbourne,Jan 21 (UNI) Mahesh Bhupathi with Mark Knowles moved into the doubles quarter finals but Sania Mirza tryst in the women's doubles ended as Indian challenge was considerably thinned in the Australian Open here today.

Also bidding adieu were Leander Paes, Rohan Bopana and US based Rajeev Ram on a day which turned out to be dismal for Indian juniors.

Sixth-seeded pair of Bhupathi and Mark Knowles (Bahamas) overpowered 11th-seeded Polish combination of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-3 6-2 to book berth in the quarterfinals.

However,Indian hopes suffered big etback when the fancied sixth seeded pair of Sania Mirza and Australian Alicia Molik were sent packing by the 12th seeded duo combine of Shahar Peer of Israel and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in straight sets 5-7,3-6 in the women's doubles third round match.

Sania has already cashed out of the singles competition after losing to eighth seed and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the third round.

In another men's third round doubles tie the Indo-US duo of Rohan Bopanna and Rajeev Ram lost to South African pair of Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie of South Africa 3-6 6-4 6-3.

Leander Paes and Agnes Szavay of Hungary gave walk-over to Chuang Chia-jung of Taiwan and Israel's Jonathan Erlich in the mixed doubles.

In the junior section, India's Yuki Bhambri and Karunuday Singh went down fighting Australian pair of Jarryd Chaplin and Jake Eames 3-6,6-7(0) in the Boy's doubles first round.

In the last-eight pairs clash, Bhupathi and Knowles will meet top seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan of the USA. The Bryan brothers beat the French pair of Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut 6-3 6-4.

In the girls section, Poojashree Venkatesh and Janaki Gunuganti, lost to third seed pair of Tyra Calderwood and Nikola Hofmanova 2-6, 2-6.

Poojashree and Janki have already bowed out of the singles event.

UNI XC HSB AB RN2012