By Chris Davies
April 11 2003

Mary Pierce finished off Anastasia Myskina the 7th seed a day later than she planned then went on to beat 10th seed Amanda Coetzer in another battle Pierce whose best surface is clay after winning the French Open in 1999 seems to be getting back into that kind of form. Myskina who won Sarasota last week looked likely to be a darkhorse in the draw but couldn't stay with the French woman who led 2-0 in the third set before continuing today, wining 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. Pierce was all over the South African legend in the first set but fell 5-0 behind in the second eventually losing it 6-2, only to regain her composure and gain the final set 6-0. Mary Pierce now plays Justine Henin-Hardenne in the quarter-finals after she beat Nathalie Dechy in another three set battle as the Belgian struggles on clay.

Ashley Harkleroad seems to be the biggest story of this tournament beating Elena Bovina in the last round and now beating fellow American Meghann Shaughnessy in a very harsh manner. Harkleroad who is a wildcard entry thrashed the 11th seeded Shaughnessy who beat Venus Williams 2 weeks ago 6-2, 6-2.

Serena Williams after she disposed Conchita Martinez 6-2, 6-2 who earlier beat Italy's Tatiana Garbin 6-2, 6-4. Williams now plays Jelena Dokic after she overcame a resurgent Elena Dementieva who finally appears to be back at the top of her game. Dementieva had her chances to win the match but the Serbian edged past 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Hantuchova also beat Tatiana Panova in a surprise 3 set battle to claim her place against Jill Craybas who she also went on to beat 7-6, 6-3. And Lindsay Davenport continued her impressive form on clay with a straight sets win over last years French Open semi-finalist Clarissa Fernandez from Argentina.

2nd round results

(15) C MARTINEZ (SPA) bt T Garbin (ITA)
6-2, 6-4

5 D HANTUCHOVA (SVK) bt T Panova (RUS)
6-2, 4-6, 6-3

M Pierce (FRA) bt (7) A MYSKINA (RUS)
6-4, 1-6, 6-2


3rd round results

(3) L DAVENPORT (USA) bt C FERNANDEZ (16)
6-4, 6-4

A Harkleroad (USA) bt (11) M SHAUGHNESSY (USA)
6-2, 6-2

V Zvonareva (RUS) bt P Suarez (ARG)
6-4, 6-4

(1) S WILLIAMS (USA) bt (15) C MARTINEZ (SPA)
6-2, 6-2

(2) J HENIN-HARDENNE (BEL) bt (14) N DECHY (FRA)
2-6, 6-3, 6-2

(5) D HANTUCHOVA (SVK) bt J Craybas (USA)
7-6 (12-10), 6-3

M Pierce (FRA) bt (10) A COETZER (SA)
6-2, 1-6, 6-0

(6) J DOKIC (SERB) bt (13) E DEMENTIEVA (RUS)
4-6, 6-4, 7-5

Quarter-Final Draw

(3) L DAVENPORT (USA) v V Zvonareva (RUS)
M Pierce (FRA) v (2) J HENIN-HARDENNE (BEL)
A Harkleroad (USA) v (5) D HANTUCHOVA (SVK)
(1) S WILLIAMS (USA) v (6) J DOKIC (S+M)