Bhupathi too loses in
Monte Carlo doubles

India's interest in the Monte Carlo ATP Masters tennis tournament ended when Mahesh Bhupathi and partner Jeff Tarango of the United States lost in straight sets in the first round on Wednesday.

The fourth seeded Indian-American pair lost 1-6, 6-7 (4/7) to the French combination of Arnaud Clement and Nicole Escude.

On Tuesday, Leander Paes and South African John-Laffnie de Jager also made a first round exit, losing 2-6, 0-6 to top seeds Donald Johnson and Jared Palmer of the US.

Paes and Bhupathi, once a world number one ranked doubles team, split for the second time and are playing with new partners. They have never enjoyed the kind of success with other partners as they had together.