Fourth-seeded Mahesh Bhupathi [ Images ] and Mark Knowles [ Images ] continued their quest for a third ATP title this season as they knocked out Leander Paes [ Images ] and Paul Hanley [ Images ] in the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami [ Images ] on Wednesday.

The Indo-Bahamian duo knocked out eighth-seeded Paes and Hanley 6-2, 6-7(8), 10-6 in one hour and 44 minutes to enter the semi-finals.

Bhupathi and Knowles saved three break point opportunities in winning the first set in 28 minutes. But the Memphis and Dubai [ Images ] champions found it difficult to repeat in the second set.

Unable to convert any of the seven break point opportunities they created, the pair was edged out in a tense tie-break but won six of eight points on serve to snatch the match tie-break for their 18th win of the year.

The pair, currently No. 2 in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race, made their team debut at Sydney [ Images ] in January.

Bhupathi and Knowles next play sixth-seeded Czechs Martin Damm [ Images ] and Pavel Vizner, who outbattled the French team of Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 4-6, 6-4, 14-12.