Mahesh Bhupathi [Images] and new partner Martin Damm of the Czech Republic faced a tough challenge from wild card opponents Florian Mayer and Lars Burgsmuller before entering the doubles second round at the Mercedes Cup tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany [Images].

Bhupathi and Damm, the top seeds, beat the local pair 1-6, 6-1 7-6(8).

They take on Andreas Beck and Sebastian Rieschick, another local pair, who defeated Tomas Berdych and Jaroslav Levinsky of the Czech Republic 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4).

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