Clijsters eases into last eight

Kim Clijsters raced through to the Paris Open quarter-finals on Thursday, dropping only one game against Maria Sanchez Lorenzo in her first match since losing to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the Australian Open final.

In the evening session, Russian Elena Bovina defeated fourth seed Jelena Dokic of Serbia 4-6, 7-6, 6-0.

Top seed Clijsters overpowered her 45th-ranked Spanish opponent 6-1, 6-0 in only 39 minutes to set up a meeting with Italian Silvia Farina Elia.

"I had the feeling I was moving well around the court. After spending two and a half months in Australia, I was glad to be back in Europe to see my family, my friends and my dog," said the Belgian world number two.

French teenager Tatiana Golovin reached the quarter-finals of a WTA tournament for the first time without playing a stroke after Slovakian opponent Daniela Hantuchova withdrew because of breathing problems.

France's Mary Pierce easily overpowered eighth seed Magui Serna of Spain 6-2, 6-4.

"I was expecting a tough game and I'm rather happy with my game," said the former French and Australian Open champion who has looked rejuvenated since playing a key role for France in their Fed Cup triumph last November.

Pierce will face Bovina in the next round while Golovin meets second seeded Russian Elena Dementieva.