Sania, Bhupathi, Paes on a winning run in Australian Open

Melbourne, Jan 25 (IANS) India's Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi powered into Australian Open mixed doubles quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Australian pair Anastasia Rodionova and Stephen Huss.

Top seeds Leander Paes and Cara Black of Zimbabwe overcame a stiff challenge against Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and Serb Nenad Zimonjic 6-4, 4-6, 10-7.

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The US Open champions next play Patty Schnyder of Switzerland and Wesley Moodie of South Africa, who defeated Russian Alisa Kleybanova and Brazilian Bruno Soares 6-3, 6-4.

Bhupathi and Sania, runners-up of the last edition, backed their accurate service games with efficient court-craft for a swift 5-0 lead in the first set.

The Australians fended off a set point to win their first game thanks to some forehand errors by Sania.

The Indians then served out the set after 23 minutes.

Sania and Bhupathi carried the same intensity in the second set, breaking their opponents twice with some brilliant slices over the net.

They will next meet the winner of match between the Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak and Daniel Nestor and Zi Yan of China and Mark Knowles of Bahamas in the quarterfinals.

In the juniors, boys top seed Yuki Bhambri had to toil hard for his 4-6, 6-1, 8-6 opening round win over German Sanchez Delfin of Mexico while Ronak Manuja went down fighting to Australian Jordan Szabo 6-7(3), 6-1, 11-13.

Yuki next meets Australian Stephen Hoh who beat American Harry Fowler 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In the girls singles, India's Rashmi Teltumbde crashed out 2-6, 4-6 to Thai Nicha Lertpitaksinchai in the first round.