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Bhupati-Paes move up, but Leander loses

Leander Paes put up a sparkling performance before losing to Cedric Pioline of France in the third round of the US Open, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7) 6-1, 3-6, 4-6.

Winning the first set comfortably, Paes faced a tough challenge in the second before losing the tie breaker 6-7 (5-7). He bounced back into the game and took the third set 6-1.

However, the Frenchman outplayed Paes in the fourth set to make it two set all.

Paes put all his experience into the fifth set. Down 3-5, the Olympic bronze medalist gave Pioline a run for his money and made it 4-5. However, he could not break the Gaul's serve and lost the match.

Leander had better luck in the doubles when Mahesh Bhupathi and he moved into the third round, defeating Paul Kilderry of Australia and Nicholas Lapentti of Ecuador in three sets, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-6 (7-1).

The Indians -- seeded tenth in the event -- had a tough time before they scraped through in the first set, 7-6 (7-3). The match was interestingly poised when Kilderry and Lapentti won the second set, 3-6.

However, the Indian Davis Cuppers came back and won the final set, 7-6 (7-1).