NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) _ Amelie Mauresmo lost the first set she's played since winning Wimbledon, then came back to beat Galina Voskoboeva 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Wednesday and reach the quarter-finals at the Pilot Pen hard-court tournament.
``I was not surprised that it took me some time to get into the rhythm of the match,'' the top-ranked Mauresmo said. ``I think it's a little bit normal that it takes a little time. And then I adjusted a little bit more and pumped myself up and really started to be more aggressive.''
Mauresmo withdrew from last week's tournament in Montreal because of a strained right shoulder and is using this event to test the injury before the U.S. Open, which starts Monday. She'll be seeded No. 1 there.
``I was struggling coming here,'' she said. ``Today was good. No pain. So that's great.''
Fourth-seeded Nadia Petrova did not feel as good, losing to Marion Bartoli of France 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4). After being ranked as high as No. 3 in the world, Petrova went out in the first round of the French Open and missed Wimbledon with a hip injury. Wednesday's setback was her fifth consecutive loss in her first match of a tournament.
``It's difficult,'' Petrova said. ``Because when you played so good, coming back from the injuries, I expect to defend my position. I expect myself to play the same tennis, to beat all the players I'm losing to now _ and that's irritating, you know.''
Meanwhile, lucky loser Mara Santangelo reached the quarter-finals when Li Na had to withdraw with a sprained ankle. Ranked No. 40 in the world, the 25-year-old Italian won a spot in the tournament, despite losing in qualifying, when Dinara Safina pulled out with an elbow injury. Santangelo has played just one match, beating 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina in the first round.
Lindsay Davenport advanced Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Francesca Schiavone. Second-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne was to play later Wednesday.
In the men's tournament, second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko had little trouble against Paradorn Srichaphan, winning 6-4, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
``Paradorn beat me last year in the U.S. Open,'' Davydenko said. ``I think (today) he has a little bit of an injury on his forehand wrist and he can't play long rallies. He tried to push and make some winners faster. That's why he made so many mistakes today. He lost control and I need only to play back on the baseline and play long rallies.''
