LONDON, Nov 7: Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer made a losing start to their ATP Tour Finals doubles campaign after they lost 4-6, 5-7 to the third-seeded duo of India’s Leander Paes and Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek on Tuesday.

Aisam and Rojer, runners-up at the Paris Masters last week, were left to rue missing out on six break point opportunities as they lost their Group ‘A’ clash in one hour and 33 minutes.

Stepanek saved one break point on sudden death deuce in the second game before closing out the 41-minute set with his second ace.

Five points went against serve in the first six games of the second set, with Paes and Qureshi surviving sudden death deuces in the second and fifth games.

Stepanek won four straight points, giving the Czech and Paes the impetus they needed to break Rojer for a 6-5 lead. Once again Stepanek closed out the set for victory.

Aisam and Rojer next face American top-seeds Mike and Bob Bryan on Thursday.—Agencies