Rediff

Netherlands, Jun 18: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi made a successful return to the tour, advancing to the second round of the Ordina Open with a straight sets win over Yves Allegro and Sebastian Prieto on Tuesday.

Earlier, India's Rohan Bopanna and partner Robert Lindstedt lost 2-6, 1-6 to the Argentine pair of Guillermo Canas and Juan Martin Del Porto in 41 minutes, in another first round match.

Paes-Bhupathi, seeded second at Hertogenbosch, beat Allegro-Prieto 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Though the former world number one duo have played for India at the Davis Cup, it was their first match together on the tour since the Bangkok Open in September, 2004.

The Indians got the break in the sixth game of the first set for a 4-2 lead. With the set going on serve after that, Bhupathi clinched it with an ace.

Though Allegro-Prieto came up with a more solid performance in the second set, saving two break-points in the ninth game, the 'Indian Express' rolled them over in the tie-breaker.

Paes, former champion in the tournament, and Bhupathi re-united for the event to rub off the rust before the Beijing Olympics.

The duo agreed to play with each other at the Games after mediation by All India Tennis Association secretary-general Anil Khanna.

Bhupathi had earlier refused to play with Paes, saying he was unhappy with the lack of communication from either Paes or the AITA. Paes had also refused to play more tour events with Bhupathi in the build-up to the Olympics, saying he preferred a training session to tournament play.