Athens: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi brought some smiles to the faces of the Indian contingent in Athens by breezing through their opening round encounter against Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish of the United States in the Olympic men's doubles tennis in Athens today (Aug 16, 2004).

The 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory posted by the 'Indian Express', striving to attain the heights which brought them two Grand Slam titles five years ago, was just the tonic needed to brighten up the Indian camp which has seen reverses on most fronts over the first two days of competition.

The Lee-Hesh combine now awaits a potentially high-octane pre-quarterfinal encounter against Wimbledon singles champion and world number one, Roger Federer and his Swiss doubles partner Yves Allegro for a place in the last eight.

The Swiss duo got past Poland's Mariusz Fyrstnberg and Marcin Mathowski in the first round.

However, the third day started on a dismal note for India with the elimination from the individual men's archery event of armyman Majhi Sawaiyan at the Panathinaiko Stadium.