PARIS — Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin was at the French Open as a fan 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 hat he handed her.
"He gives his heart for tennis. He loves tennis," Myskina said. "He's just the biggest fan that I've ever known in my life."
She will 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 reigning champion Henin-Hardenne in the second round.
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Hewitt moves on
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 Saturday 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.
Groenefeld injuries
Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld will soon shed at least some of the tape she's been shrouded in for most of the week.
Groenefeld's right arm and both ankles have been swathed since the No. 13th-seeded player ran into a wall during a doubles match on Wednesday, twisting her right ankle and injuring her arm.
Groenefeld breezed through Saturday's third-round match against 20th-seeded Maria Kirilenko, winning 6-2, 7-6 (2).
Pe'er earns victory
Shahar Pe'er upset 2004 French Open runner-up Elena Dementieva 6-4, 7-5 Saturday to become the first Israeli woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament since 1998.
"We have maybe four clay courts in Israel," the 19-year-old Peer said. "The rest is just hard courts. But I think the way I play and the way I move, I can improve and play better and better on clay."
She will face five-time major champion Martina Hingis for a quarterfinal berth.
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