Doubles: Thursday Highlights & Wrap

Unseeded Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez have denied Jamie Murray the chance to assume top spot in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings after defeating the Scot and Brazilian Bruno Soares 6-7(2), 7-6(2), 10-8 in the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals on Thursday.

Murray needed to win just one more match to take over as No. 1 from Marcelo Melo but fell short in just under two hours. The Lopez pairing hit six aces and won 81 per cent of first-serve points against the No. 4 seeds, saving five of six break points to advance.

Marc Lopez is no stranger to success in Indian Wells, having claimed the doubles title twice before (2010, 2012), both times with Rafael Nadal. Teaming with another of his countrymen, he continued his run of form in the desert to book a semi-final showdown with defending champions Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock.

The sixth seeds registered a 7-5, 6-3 result over Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany and Dominic Thiem of Austria. The Canadian-American duo was impressive on serve, claiming 87 per cent of first-serve points and 84 per cent on second serves in the one-hour, four-minute affair. They broke three times to close to within two wins of winning back-to-back BNP Paribas Open titles.

To watch the BNP Paribas Open online, visit TennisTV.com.