ROME: : Fourth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas crashed out in the second round of the Italian Open to Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, losing 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-7.

Leander Paes and his Australian partner Paul Hanley were also knocked out, losing 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 to Mariusz Frystenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland.

Meanwhile, world number one Roger Federer beat Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (4), 6-3 to book a quarter-final against Czech Radek Stepanek.

Novak Djokovic edged past Russia’s Igor Andreev 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in his third round match.