Wed Feb 6 17:57:09 2008

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French women rule in Paris

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Paris, France (Sports Network) - Nathalie Dechy, Virginie Razzano and Alize Cornet of France were all first-round winners Wednesday at the Open Gaz de France tennis event.

Dechy, a wild card entry this week, earned a 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) triumph over China's Shuai Peng, while Razzano knocked off eighth-seeded Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Cornet rallied from a set down to post a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic.

Second-round play also got under way and fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia struggled early before completing a 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.

Seventh-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary needed more than two hours to advance to the quarterfinals, battling past Italy's Tathiana Garbin, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Dementieva and the other three top seeds all received byes into the second round, which continues Thursday.

The 2008 Open Gaz titlist will collect $95,500.