Leander Paes [ Images ] and Mahesh Bhupathi [ Images ] had to strain their sinews before the Indian duo, along with their respective partners, cleared the opening round hurdle in the men's doubles event of the Miami [ Images ] Masters.

Third seeds Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy [ Images ] toiled for nearly one-and-half hours before eking out a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Ross Hutchins and Jordan Kerr.

They now face the unseeded Thomaz Belucci-Marc Lopez pair who struggled past the Christopher Kas-Dick Norman duo 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.

Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi [ Images ] also overcame a tricky test against 2005 Wimbledon [ Images ] champions Stephen Huss and Wesley Moodie [ Images ] before they carved out a 6-4, 7-5 victory in 76 minutes.

The fourth seeded Indo-Belarussian pair now face John Isnor and Sam Querry, who toiled to get past Johan Branstrom and Jean-Jullen Rojer 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 in yet another intense opening round match.