Australian Open: Paes-Stepanek in third round, play Bhambri-Venus

Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek, who beat Paes’s former partner Lukas Dlouhy and Lukas Rosol of Czech Republic 6—4, 6—1, in the first round, had a clear superiority in serving, returning and hitting winners. File Photo

India’s Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek on Saturday entered the third round of the men’s doubles at the Australian Open, easily defeating Italian Daniele Bracciali and Ukranian Alexander Dolgopolov 6—1, 6—4.

Fifth-seeded Paes and Stepanek, who beat Paes’s former partner Lukas Dlouhy and Lukas Rosol of Czech Republic 6—4, 6—1, in the first round, had a clear superiority in serving, returning and hitting winners.

Paes and Stepanek next play India’s Yuki Bhambri and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus, who had upset 10th seeded Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands and his Romanian partner Horia Tecau 6—4, 6—4, in the second round on Friday.