Bopanna-Mergea end runners-up in Madrid

India’s top doubles player Rohan Bopanna and his Romanian partner Florin Mergea could not defend their Madrid Open title as they lost the summit clash to Jean-Julien Roger and Horia Tecau on Sunday.

The sixth seeded defending champions lost the closely fought final 4-6, 6-7 (5) to the third seed Dutch-Romanian combination in one hour and 11 minutes.