Monte Carlo Masters: Wildcard duo of Paire-Wawrinka stuns Paes-Nestor

Monaco: Wildcard tennis pair of Benoit Paire and Stan Wawrinka accounted for the Leander Paes and Daniel Nestor as the Indo-Canadian combine lost their men’s doubles second round match to be ousted from the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday.

The sixth seeds, who had received a first round bye, lost 4-6, 6-7(4) in an hour and seven minutes to the French-Swiss pair at the Monte Carlo Country Club.

Paire and Wawrinka stunned Paes and Nestor with a surprise win. The sixth seeds saved four breakpoints in the first set but the wildcard pair were successful on their fifth attempt, the only chance they needed to close the set in their favour.

The second set was a more evenly matched contest. Though Paire and Wawrinka earned two breakpoint chances, they were saved by the Indo-Canadian pair.

In the tiebreak, the wildcard combination raced away and closed the match in their first chance.

Singles World No.9 Wawrinka’s powerful forehands proved to be the difference between the two teams.

Wawrinka and Paire had earlier beaten Paes’ compatriot Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea in the first round.

IANS