The unseeded Indo-Czech pair of Paes and Stepanek shocked third seeds Michael Llodra of France and Serbian Nenad Zimonjic 7-5, 7-6(2) in a hard-fought third round match.
Leander Paes on Sunday inched closer to his first-ever Australian Open title by making it to the doubles quarter-finals along with Radek Stepanek but it was all over for his compatriots Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna.
Paes and Stepanek converted both the break chances in the opening set, having saved three on their own serve, which proved crucial in their tight one hour 39 minutes match.
In another men’s doubles third round match, fourth seeded Bhupathi and Bopanna were stunned 6-7(6), 2-6 by 13th seeded American pair of Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram.
Meanwhile, India’s challenge ended in the junior singles competitions, with the defeats of Rutuja Bhonsle, Ratnika Batra and Arjun Khade.
