Paes-Dlouly, Bhupathi-Knowles advance in Rome Masters

Seasoned Indian pros Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have advanced to the second round of the ATP Masters event along with their respective partner after getting a first-round bye.

Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy, seeded third, now await the winner of match between Ivan Ljubicic/Michael Llodra and Julian Knowle/Andy Ram.

Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas, seeded eighth, will take on the winner of the match between Simone Bolelli/Potito Starace and Igor Andreev/Mikhail Youzhny.

Both the Indian players have done well in the elite Masters series events in the recent past.

Bhupathi and Knowles have two runners-up finish to their credit in the Masters events this season.