Mahesh Bhupathi [ Images ] and new partner Martin Damm [ Images ] 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 [ Images ] 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).