Sugiyama deflates Pierce

MOSCOW, OCT 21: AI Sugiyama upset first-seeded Mary Pierce 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the second round of the $ 1.05 million Kremlin Cup with the Frenchwoman apparently hobbled by back pains. Seventh-seeded Sandrine Testud also was ousted early, losing in an upset to Silvia Farina of Italy 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.

Barbara Schett overcame a scare in her first match from a Russian qualifier, gaining control in the second set to beat Anastasia Myskina 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.Third-seeded Julie Halard-Decugis outplayed Anne-Gaellesidot 6-2, 7-5 in an all-French second rounder. Her countrywoman, Sarah Pitkowski, 23, defeated Natasha Zvereva of Belarus 6-4, 6-3.

Mauresmo advances

Bratislava (slovakia): Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France survived A first-round scare in the Eurotel Slovak indoor tournament, beating Hungary’s Rita Kuti Kis 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

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Slovakia’s Karina Habsudova, seeded sixth, also advanced to the second round, beating compatriot Ludmila Cervanova 7-6, (7-4) 6-4.

In second-roundmatches, second-seeded Nathalie Dechy of France routed Lilia Osterloh of the United States 6-0, 6-2.