Tennis: Safina beats Razzano in Paris

PARIS - Russian tennis player Dinara Safina remained on course to retain her title at the women's Paris Open, taming France's Virginie Razzano 6-4 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals.

The seventh seed will take on the winner of Thursday's second-round match between compatriot Vera Dushevina and top-seed Amelie Mauresmo.

The Frenchwoman is returning to action after she clinched her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne last month.

Fifth-seed Elena Dementieva took less than an hour to beat Swedish qualifier Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-2 and cruise into the second round.

Dementieva arrived in Paris on Monday after winning in Tokyo at the weekend.

"I was a little bit tired," the world No 8 said.

"It's tough to play when you are jet-lagged. I hope it will be better tomorrow. What I want right now is to take a nap."

Dementieva will face France's Nathalie Dechy who humbled compatriot Marion Bartoli 6-0 6-2 for her first victory this year.

- REUTERS