Mahesh Bhupathi's hopes of clinching his second title of the season were dashed when he and Todd Woodbridge went out in the semifinals of the 2.08 million Euro ATP Tennis Masters in Rome, Italy, on Saturday.
The fifth seeded Indo-Aussie pair were beaten 6-4, 6-4 by French duo Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro on the red clay of the Foro Italico courts.
Bhupathi, 30, and Woodbridge, 34, are yet to win a title this season since their triumph in Sydney in January, their first tournament together.
In fact, the duo that combine 23 Grand Slam crowns between them are yet to reach a final on the tour. Reaching the semifinals in Dubai is their next best effort.
Both former number one players with different partners, Bhupathi and Woodbridge languish at 11th in the ATP Doubles Race for the year.