Indian ace Mahesh Bhupathi [ Images ] shrugged off his Olympic Games [ Images ] disappointment to record a thrilling first round victory in the men's doubles at the US Open [ Images ] tennis championships in New York on Wednesday.

Bhupathi, pairing with Belarussian Max Mirnyi [ Images ], overcame rusty form to defeat the Argentine pair of Martin Garcia and Sebastian Prieto 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) at Flushing Meadows.

The fourth seeded Indo-Belarussian pair will take on the winner of the Rainer Schuettler [ Images ] of Germany [ Images ]/Mikhail Youzhny of Russia [ Images ] vs Argenita's Federico Browne/Guillermo Canas [ Images ] tie.

Schuettler was in the German doubles combination that stopped Bhupathi and Leander Paes's [ Images ] pursuit of an Olympic gold medal in the semi-finals in Athens last month.

Paes too will have a chance to avenge his Athens defeat when he teams with the Czech Republic's David Rikl against the Croatian duo of Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic in the first round clash.