Paris, February 9:

Former champion Mary Pierce scratched out a 6-2, 6-4 win over Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain to open her account at the Open Gaz de France on Wednesday.

Pierce will face fellow Frenchwoman Emilie Loit in quarter-finals. Beside Loit, defending champ Dinara Safina also won her second-round match.

In the last first-round matches, fifth-seeded Elena Dementieva and Nathalie Dechy of France were winners, and will play each other for a place in the quarters.

Dementieva dispatched Swedish Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 6-2. Dechy ousted countrywoman Marion Bartoli 6-0, 6-2 to set up a 10th career meeting with Dementieva.

Safina was untroubled in beating Virginie Razzano of France 6-4, 6-3, while Loit cruised Stephanie Foretz 6-0, 6-3.