Roland Garros 2005

Lindsay Davenport (1) - Mary Pierce (21)
For the first time in six long years, Lindsay Davenport has made it through to the quarter-finals in Paris. And what a struggle it has been for the top seed, who has been down and very nearly out in every one of her matches so far. Her last round victory was her most heroic. Trailing 6-1, 3-1 to Kim Clijsters, who she had not beaten in six previous encounters, the Californian somehow dragged herself back into it before prevailing in the third. She must be tired after all that effort, but full of confidence too.

30-year-old Mary Pierce is slowly but surely entering the exclusive club of French tennis legends. Her smiling on-court demeanour has endeared her to the home crowds yet again this year, and she is clearly thriving on the support. Against Patty Schnyder, the 2000 champion had her fans squirming as she somehow contrived to miss 11 match points before finally collapsing over the finish line. The former world number three is on a cloud and playing out of her skin.

Mary Pierce (21) - Patty Schnyder (8)
Mary Pierce's run to the last sixteen is a nice surprise for French tennis fans. Having lost to Russian girls in every tournament prior to Roland Garros, Pierce broke that losing spiral by outgunning Vera Zvonareva (9) in the third round. Stronger and fitter than at any time in the past five years, the 30-year-old is playing like a woman on borrowed time. Patty Schnyder will be well aware of her opponents' new frame of mind and will take care not to underestimate her. Only beaten by Justine Henin-Hardenne and Amélie Mauresmo on clay this year, Schnyder is bang on form. Pierce leads 4-2 in the head-to-head, but the two have not met since 2002. Mary can count on the undying support of a centre court crowd that have taken her to their heart as her career enters its twilight years. Quite whether that backing will be enough against her younger, quicker adversary is debatable.

Mary Pierce: "I want to enjoy myself"
I have to forget I'm in Paris and play my matches as if this were a tournament like any other. Roland Garros represents so much for me that I need to avoid putting pressure on myself. I'm physically and mentally ready. I still feel at home on the circuit. I still enjoy it just as much. I want to enjoy myself before the time comes to retire.

Pierce, forty and counting
In crushing Croatia's Jelena Kostanic 6-1, 6-0 today, in just 58 minutes, Mary Pierce wrote her name in the French Open record books. The champion of 2000 notched her 40th win in Paris, joining ten other women to have achieved that feat. The absolute record is held by Steffi Graff, who won an incredible 84 matches on the Roland Garros clay. The win also means that Pierce, now aged 30, has reached the third round for the eleventh time in 15 participations.