New Delhi: Leander Paes may well have to return to Shanghai next year to have another shot at the elusive Masters Cup doubles, as his chances of winning the title suffered another jolt when he and partner Martin Damm lost their second straight game on Tuesday.
Opponents and top-ranked Bryan brothers beat the Indo-Czech pair in a tight three-setter 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5) in the second leg of the Red Group.
Bob and Mike Bryan had also suffered a shock defeat in their first game and were themselves in the firing line.
Paes and Martin Damm, the reigning US Open champions had earlier lost 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 3-6 to Australian Paul Hanley and Zimbabwe's Kevin Ullyett on Sunday.
Paes and Damm will now have to defeat Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram of Israel and rely on results from other matches of the third and final round on Thursday to go through to the semi-finals of the year-end championships.
Hanley and Ullyett more or less clinched one of the two last-four berths from the group with their 6-4, 6-4 win over Erlich and Ram on Tuesday.
They need to win a set against the Bryans to seal their last-four spot.
The Bryans, who had lost to the Israeli pair, would book the other spot if they win without dropping a set. Erlich and Ram also have a chance if they win against Paes and Damm without dropping a set.
The top eight teams on the ATP Tour rankings divided into two groups are competing in the championships.
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