Open Gaz de France 1999

Open Gaz de France'99 Mauresmo wins, advances to quarterfinals match with Hingis

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.