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Myskina has presidential support in Yeltsin

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 4, 2006

PARIS - Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin was at the French Open as a fan on Saturday, and 2004 champion Anastasia Myskina considers him a lucky charm.

"When he watched before, I never lose a match," Myskina said after her 6-2, 6-3 win over Anna Ivanovic of Serbia in the third round. "So I hope he is going to stay here."

Myskina spoke with Yeltsin after the match and autographed a straw hat he handed her.

She'll now face 2003 and 2005 French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, who beat Tathiana Garbin of Italy 6-4, 6-0. The last time they played, it was also at Roland Garros, in 2004, and Garbin upset Henin-Hardenne in the second round.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt's progress at this year's French Open does not appear to be slowed down by a recent ankle injury or a lack of play on clay courts. Hewitt, who beat Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-2 to set up a fourth-round showdown with defending champion Rafael Nadal, is only playing in his second clay-court tournament in two years. Since reaching the 2004 French Open quarterfinals, Hewitt's only other appearance on clay was a first-round loss to Marcos Daniel at the tournament in Portschach, Austria, the week before arriving here this year. Hewitt sprained his right ankle in that match.

Shahar Peer upset 2004 French Open runnerup Elena Dementieva 6-4, 7-5 to become the first Israeli woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament since 1998. She'll face five-time major champion Martina Hingis for a quarterfinal berth. The last Israeli to reach round of 16 at a major was Anna Smashnova, who also did it at the French Open. Smashnova's opponent in the fourth round eight years ago at Roland Garros? Hingis, who beat her.

[Last modified June 4, 2006, 01:17:19]