Paris: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi enjoyed contrasting fortunes at the French Open on Saturday with the former suffering shock defeat in men’s doubles and the latter cruising into Round III.

Paes and Martin Damm of the Czech Republic, third seeded and the reigning US Open champions, were stunned 3-6, 6-1, 3-6 by the German duo of Michael Kohlmann and Rainer Schuettler.

Bhupathi and Radek Stepanek, also of the Czech Republic, advanced to Round III with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Filippo Volandri of Italy.

The Indians’ luck was exactly reversed in the glamour segment of mixed doubles, with Paes tasting success and Bhupathi biting the dust.

Paes, partnering American Meghann Shaughnessy, shocked seventh seeds Mike Bryan of the US and Yung-Jan Chan of Taiwan 6-2, 6-0 to move into Round Two. Bhupathi, paired with Paola Suarez of Argentina, lost 6-7 (4), 3-6 against Tathiana Garbin of Italy and Paul Hanley of Australia.

On Friday, Sania Mirza and Fabrice Santoro advanced into Round Two of the mixed doubles (briefly reported in Saturday’s Late City edition).

The Indo-French pair easily defeated Vania King of the US and Frantisek Cermak of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-0 in their opening encounter. (PTI)