Bhupathi-Mirnyi concede Monte Carlo final

Mahesh Bhupathi and his Belarusian partner Max Mirnyi had to content with the runners-up trophy at the Monte Carlo Masters doubles after the Indian retired following an injured left leg against top seeds Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.

Nestor and Zimonjic, thus became the first doubles team in eight years to defend the title here on Sunday.

The top-seeds were leading 6-3, 2-0, when the fifth-seeded Indo-Belarusian pair conceded the match after 44 minutes of play.

Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge were the last back-to-back winners at the Monte Carlo Country Club in 2001 and 2002.

Bhupathi and Mirnyi were also the finalists at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami two weeks ago.