By Chris Davies
February 6 2003

No 3 seed and local favourite Amelie Mauresmo staged a fightback to book her place in the quarter-finals in Paris after a long lay-off. Mauresmo returning after four months out through injury, was 1-4 down to Japan's Ai Sugiyama but rallied and eventually came through 7-5, 6-2.

She struggled in the first set, fallling 4-0 behind and saving four set points before showing her competitive form.

"I was slow and had to struggle in the first games. I'm just happy to be here as I really believed I would not be able to come back" she said.

Janette Husarova beat Tina Pisnik of Slovenia 6-4, 6-3, while rising star Eleni Daniilidou of Greece beat Stephanie Foretz in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4.

Elena Dementieva overcame her Italian opponent in a three set battle eventually sealing a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Rita Grande.

The last player through to the Quarter-finals was Jelena Dokic who beat in-form Emilie Loit with a straight sets victory. The no 4 seed found her rhythm quickly in the match and broke Loit once in each set to seal a 6-3, 6-4 victory.


Results

Open Gaz de France, Paris

A MAURESMO (FRA) 3 bt A Sugiyama (JPN)
7-5, 6-2

J Husarova (SVK) bt T Pisnik (SLO)
6-4, 6-3

E DANIILIDOU (GRE) 8 bt S Foretz (FRA)
6-0, 6-4

J DOKIC (YUG) 4 bt E Loit (FRA)
6-3, 6-4

E Dementieva (RUS) bt R Grande (ITA)
6-3, 4-6, 6-3