Bhupathi-Knowles make an early exit in Hamburg

Mahesh Bhupathi and partner Mark Knowles lost in straight sets and bowed out of the Euro 2,270,000 Hamburg ATP Masters Series on Tuesday.

The Indo-Bahamian duo lost 2-6, 3-6 to the American pair of James Blake and Mardy Fish in a pre-quarter-final match.

Leander Paes, the other Indian in the fray, and his new Spanish partner Tommy Robredo got a first round bye.

They face the formidable third seeded Israeli duo of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram in the pre-quarter-finals.