Paes, Arthurs make progress

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, JULY 7: The world's top doubles player Leander Paes of India, fresh from his Wimbledon doubles win partnering Mahe...

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, JULY 7: The world’s top doubles player Leander Paes of India, fresh from his Wimbledon doubles win partnering Mahesh Bhupathi, teamed with Wayne Arthurs of Australia to beat Thomas Ketola (Finland) and Rogier Wassen (Netherlands) 6-2, 6-2 in the $2.95 lakh Newport Hall of Fame tennis championships yesterday. Arthurs, Paes’ fourth partner in as many weeks, had reached the pre-quarter final at Wimbledon before losing to finalist Andre Agassi.

In singles matches, top-seeded Wayne Ferreira of South Africa advanced, while second-seeded Jason Stoltenberg of Australia was knocked out.

Ferreira used his serve-and-volley game to defeat Italy’s Mose Navarra 6-3, 6-3 in a match that produced few spectacular shots. Ferreira, a former top-10 player now ranked 32nd, was a late entrant into the tournament, deciding to play after a first-round loss at Wimbledon. He now meets the winner of the first round match between defending champion Paes and Nenad Zimjonic (Yugoslavia).

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Stoltenberg, anAustralian who lost in the semi-finals last year as the No 1 seed, dropped a three-set match to American Jonathan Stark 4-6 6-3 4-6.

Eighth seed Sebastien Lareau was the only other seeded player to fall, losing to Kenneth Carlsen 6-4, 6-2. Other winners included No 3 David Prinosil, No 7 Daniel Nestor and unseeded players Arthurs, Christian Vinck and Chris Woodruff.

BHUPATHI PULLS OUT: Wimbledon doubles champion Mahesh Bhupathi has pulled out of the $25,000 Bristol Challenger because of the abdomen injury he contracted during Wimbledon. Bhupathi, seeded seventh at the tournament, will also not play next week’s Manchester challenger, as the injury is likely to keep him out of action for two weeks.