By IANS,
New York : India’s Mahesh Bhupathi and Australian Samantha Stosur squandered a set lead to go down 6-2, 3-6, 10-12 to Swede Robert Lindstedt and Australian Rennae Stubbs in the second round of the US Open mixed doubles here.
Bhupathi and Stosur were off the blocks in a flash in the first set but their opponents forced their way brilliantly to draw level and took the match to decider.
The match which lasted for over an hour had both teams fighting neck and neck. Stubbs and Lindstedt though got the important points in the super-tie breaker to close the match.
Bhupathi and Stosur did not allow their opponents to settle down as they broke twice to pocket the first set in 24 minutes. They won 83 per cent of their first serves compared to a poor 42 per cent of Stubbs-Lindstedt.
But Robert and Rennae came back hard in the second set which turned out to be a close one. They got only one break point which they converted while Bhupathi and Stosur were left ruing for wasting the only break point that came their way.
The decider was a thrilling affair with both teams holding on their serves. Stubbs-Lindstedt though won the crucial points to enter the third round.
Bhupathi, however, is still in contention in the doubles event where he and Bahamian Mark Knowles advanced to the quarter-finals Friday.