| By ANDREAS EVAGORA Associated Press Writer
PARIS (AP) - Amelie Mauresmo and Martina Hingis will play each other
again, this time in the quarterfinals of the Gaz de France on Friday.
Mauresmo, a 19-year-old from France, breezed to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over
Karina Habsudova on Thursday.
That set up a rematch with 18-year-old Hingis, the world's top ranked
woman player.
Their last meeting, for the Australian Open title, produced an off-the-court
controversy.
Hingis made disparaging remarks about Mauresmo's body and sexual orientation,
then denied what she said even though her comments were recorded on tape.
Mauresmo, who is gay, responded by saying that Hingis had been stupid.
Hingis won the Australian final 6-2, 6-3.
Mauresmo said Thursday she would treat the match like any other. ``Everything
that has happened has happened,'' she said.
``That's behind us. The motivation for every match is to win.''
Mauresmo was never in any trouble against Habsudova, quickly dominating
the Slovak's service and asserting her own
powerful game. She won in just 52 minutes.
Earlier, Belgium's Dominique van Roost, seeded No. 3, trounced Spain's
Virginia Ruano-Pascual 6-4, 6-0.
In the next round, she will face Russian Elena Likhovtseva, who beat
Czech Sandra Kleinova 6-4, 7-5.
Another player rising in the rankings, No. 7 seed Julie Halard-Decugis
of France, easily beat compatriot Anne-Gaelle Sidot
6-1, 6-2.
Halard-Decugis, winner of the Auckland event, is battling back from
wrist and knee injuries that sidelined her for more than a
year.
She will face Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
Nathalie Dechy, who ousted No. 5 seed Sandrine Testud in the first round,
won again, beating Croatia's Iva Majoli 6-2, 2-6,
6-2.
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