Miami, March 24 India's Yuki Bhambri and his Kiwi partner Michael Venus were eliminated in the first round of the Miami Open following a narrow defeat to John-Patrick Smith and Sander Arends here.
Yuki and Venus lost 6-4, 5-7, 13-15 in a 32-match contest against the Australian-Dutch duo in one hour and 52 minutes.
The two teams were very close. Smith and Arends converted half of their four break points, while Yuki and Venus were able to convert a couple of break points they earned in the match.
It was the first meeting between Arends and Smit, and Yuki and Venus.
Yuki had reached the semifinals of the Indian Wells alongside Andre Goransson earlier this month.
The 33-year-old Indian had famously reached the semifinals of the US Open last year with Venus.