Melbourne, January 21
Mahesh Bhupathi was the lone bright spot for India at the Australian Open here today as other contenders from the country, including Sania Mirza, bit the dust in various events.

In a third round match, sixth-seeded Bhupathi and his Bahamian partner Mark Knowles defeated 11th-seeded Polish duo of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-3, 6-2 to move into the quarterfinals of the men's doubles event.

However, the other Indians in fray were shown the door.

The sixth seeded pair of Sania Mirza and Australian Alicia Molik crashed out of the tournament after suffering a straight set defeat in the women's doubles third round match.

The Indo-Australian team lost 5-7, 3-6 against the 12th seeded combine of Shahar Peer of Israel and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

In men's third round doubles tie, the Indo-US duo of Rohan Bopanna and Rajeev Ram lost to South African pair of Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie of South Africa 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Leander Paes and Agnes Szavay of Hungary gave a walkover to Chuang Chia-jung of Taiwan and Israel's Jonathan Erlich in the mixed doubles. — Agencies