PARIS -- A tearful Amelie Mauresmo made a strong comeback
before a home crowd, defeating Japan's Ai Sugiyama 7-5, 6-2
Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the $585,000 Gaz de France.
The third-seeded Frenchwoman had been sidelined for 3½ months
because of her ailing right knee. After her victory, she clutched
her head, looked up, then sat and wept.
"I went from a sluggish start to great joy at the end,''
Mauresmo said. "The public was there for me again when I needed
them. I'm happy to be back and happy to have victory as a bonus.''
Mauresmo, who won this tournament in 2001, plays Spain's Magui
Serna on Friday.
Slovakia's Janette Husarova gained a berth in the quarters,
beating Slovenia's Tina Pisnik 6-4, 6-3. Husarova will next play
top-ranked Serena Williams. She has lost both their meetings in
straight sets.
"I'm not so powerful as Serena,'' Husarova said. "Against her,
you need your absolute best tennis and also luck.''
Greece's Eleni Daniilidou topped France's Stephanie Foretz 6-0,
6-4. Daniilidou will face fourth-seeded Jelena Dokic, a 6-3, 6-4
winner over Emilie Loit.
Mauresmo's left thigh was wrapped because of a slight strain
during practice.
She got off to a shaky start, trailing 4-0 and committing two
double faults in her first service game. She won a long rally on
her second match-point with a backhand crosscourt flick.
"I had to work the tension out of my legs first,'' she said.
In one stretch, Mauresmo reeled off eight straight games.
"I really unleashed my shots in the second set,'' she said.