PARIS, 3 November 2004 — Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt held off a strong fightback by French sensation Gael Monfils to move into the third round of the Paris Masters Series indoor tournament yesterday.

Australian Hewitt, who missed last month’s Madrid Masters, beat the junior world number one 6-3, 7-6 in just under two hours.

Hewitt, a losing finalist at Bercy two years ago, appeared to be on track for a smooth passage as he swept through the first set in the Parisian sports hall.

But the 18-year-old Monfils, winner of three of the four grand slam tournaments in the junior ranks last season, showcased his rich potential with much stiffer opposition in the second set.

Hewitt, boosted by his own strong start to the match, took a 3-1 lead in the second set and had four break points in the next game which he failed to convert.

Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick leapt to the defense of Paris Masters no-shows Roger Federer and Andre Agassi yesterday as the sport’s foot soldiers seized their unexpected opportunity in the Bercy Arena centre court spotlight.

Officials were furious with the last minute pullout of Agassi, arguing that the lucrative nine-event Masters series was discredited by the withdrawals and met to discuss what measures could be taken to stem the crisis.

The gravity of the situation was almost embarrassingly highlighted by the humble figure of Italian journeyman Davide Sanguinetti.

The player ranked 109 in the world had lost in qualifying but was called back as a lucky loser and then fast-tracked into the second round to plug the gap left by Agassi.

Yesterday, he took a one-set lead over Sweden’s Robin Soderling before eventually running out of steam and losing 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-0.

Roddick, the top seed and who skipped the Monte Carlo and Madrid Masters this year, lashed out at those officials who are demanding financial penalties against players who skip the top tournaments. Directors of four of the five European-based Masters events met here yesterday and decided to press the ATP, the governing body, to introduce sanctions in order to protect the integrity of the events.

They will also meet their American counterparts at the Masters Cup in Houston later this month to discuss what further measures can be taken.

On the courts yesterday, Spain’s Feliciano Lopez beat Rainer Schuettler of Germany 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko cruised past Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-2, 6-3 while qualifier Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic defeated France’s Michael Llodra 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.

Last year’s runner-up Andrei Pavel, the 11th seed from Romania, beat America’s Mardy Fish 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 while Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic defeated France’s Arnaud Clement 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). His reward is a second round clash with Russian sixth seed Marat Safin, champion here in 2000 and 2002.

Also progressing to the third round was Tommy Haas, the 18th seeded German, who put out Belgium’s Xaiver Malisse 6-1, 7-6 (7-1).

Zvonareva Advances at Philly WTA Event

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sixth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva defeated Austrian qualifier Sybille Bammer in three sets here Monday as the $585,000-dollar WTA indoor hardcourt tournament got underway.

Zvonareva defeated Bammer 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) to reach the second round.

Czech Iveta Benesova also went three sets in her first-round match, outlasting Puerto Rico’s Kristina Brandi 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to earn a second-round match with top seed and defending champion Amelie Mauresmo of France.

The top four seeds Mauresmo, Russians Anastasia Myskina and Maria Sharapova and American Jennifer Capriati — have first-round byes. Myskina, the reigning French Open champion, awaits Rossana Neffa-de los Rios. The native of Paraguay beat American Meilen Tu, 6-4, 6-4, in a matchup of qualifiers.

In other matches, Yuliana Fedak of the Ukraine rallied to defeat American qualifier Teryn Ashley 0-6, 6-2, 6-1, and American Amy Frazier beat Czech wild card Nicole Vaidisova 6-2, 7-5.

Tanasugarn Cruises in Quebec WTA Event

In Quebec City, Canada, Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn, the top seed in action at the WTA’s Challenge Bell on Monday, cruised into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Czech Sandra Kleinova.

Tanasugarn, seeded fifth in this $170,000 indoor tournament, next faces Lubomira Kurhajcova of Slovakia, who outlasted Hungarian Aniko Kapros 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-3.

Seventh-seeded American Laura Granville, the only other seed to play Monday, made quick work of Camille Pin of France 6-1, 6-1.

The top two seeds at the indoor event, Mary Pierce of France and Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, each received first-round byes.

Defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia, opted to play the $585,000 event in Philadelphia this week.