Paes-Granollers pair bows out of Aegon Open

Nottingham: Top seeds Leander Paes and Marcel Granollers were on Thursday knocked out the ATP Aegon Open following a quarterfinal defeat against unseeded Chris Guccione and Andre Sa, here.

Paes and Granollers, the 100th partner of the Indian, lost 4-6 6-3 7-10 to Australian-Brazilian team in one hour and 15 minutes in the Euro 644065 grass court event, the last in the build up to the Wimbledon.

Paes and Granollers did not any break opportunity in the opening set as Guccione and Andre played solid service games. The top seeds managed to saved three break chances on their serve but could not stop the opponents from converting the fourth and lost the set.

Paes and Granollers broke the rival pair in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead but Paes committed a double fault when they were down by two break chances in the fifth game to let go the advantage.

They capitalised on the second break chance in the sixth game to yet again nose ahead, increasing the possibility of a Super Tie Break.

Paes and Granollers then saved a break point in the seventh game for a comfortable 5-2 lead. The top seeds closed the set in their favour, converting the third set point in the ninth game, following a hold by the rivals.

The Indo-Spanish pair though made a horrible start to the deciding Super Tie Break, losing four straight points to trail 0-4.

They saved four match points, doing all they could to save the match, but Guccione and Andre converted their fifth chance to spell end for the top seeds.