Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek progressed to the pre-quarterfinals of the ATP Masters event at Indian Wells but Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna suffered a shock first round defeat.

Seventh seeds Paes and Stepanek outplayed unseeded Spaniards David Ferrer and Albert Ramos 6-3, 6-3 in their opening round.

However, fifth seed pair Bhupathi and Bopanna, who had recently won Dubai Open, lost 4-6, 3-6 to Julien Benneteau and Jo-wilfried Tsonga in their first round match.

Paes and Stepanek, the Australian Open champions, await winners of the other first round match between the pairs of Eric Butorac and Bruno Soares and Juan Monaco and Kei Nishikori.