Bhupathi-Stepanek bow out to top seeds after marathon match

Hamburg, May 18 (UNI) Mahesh Bhupathi and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek failed to cash in on a match point that came their way and bowed out to top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States in the match tiebreaker in the second round of the 2.08 million euro Hamburg Masters here.

Bryan brothers overcame the spirited Indo-Czech combine 6-7 (4), 6-3, 14-12 in one hour and 42 minutes.

Bhupathi-Stepanek matched their opponents shots for shots in the opening set and held their nervers and serves to pocket it in the tiebreaker.

Shaken out of slumber, the top seed came back strongly and pocketed the next set 6-3 without much difficulty.

In the match tiebreaker, both the pairs seemed in no mood to give an upper edge to the opponent's. But ultimately the Indo-Czech duo succumbed to the pressure put on by the Bryan brothers and bowed out fighting 14-12.

UNI