India Davis Cupper Harsh Mankad staged a splendid rally to enter the pre-quarter-finals in the ATP Challenger tournament in Belgaum on Tuesday.

However, his compatriots Mustafa Ghouse and Sunil Kumar Sipaeya failed to advance.

In a intense first round duel, Mankad overcame James Auckland of Britain 6-7(4-7), 7-5, 7-6(7-4) to set up a meeting with Switzerland's unseeded Stephane Bohli, who shocked third seed Michal Mertinak of Slovakia 7-6(7-3), 6-2.

The upset result brought a smile on Mankad's face as he had lost to Mertinak in the Dharwad leg.

Wild card Sipaeya raised his game several notches in the second set but lacked the fire-power against Branislav Sekac of Slovakia, who won 6-1, 7-6(10-8).

Ghouse, another wild card, lost steam after claiming the first set as Victor Bruthans of Slovakia won 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Fourth seed Rik De Voest of South Africa booked his place in the next round with a 7-6(9-7), 6-3 victory over Michael Lammer of Britain.

De Voest later got a walk-over from Bruthans and moved into the quarter-finals.