Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo had to beat a strong challenge from her young compatriot Alize Cornet to advance into the second round of the Kremlin Cup on Monday.

Mauresmo, struggling with her poor form this season with injury, rallied to beat the fellow Frenchwoman 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4.

Mauresmo, a finalist in 2003 long before 18-year-old Cornet turned pro, fought from a break down in the second set, winning four games in a row to even their match at one set apiece.

She had a hard time again in the final set while trailing 4-3, but her experience gave her the edge in the decider.

Mauresmo, 29, next meets in-form Russian second seed Dinara Safina.

Safina won her fourth title this season in Tokyo on Sept. 21 and is at a career-high No. 3 in the world rankings.

Former Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France was forced to retire against unseeded Slovak Dominika Cibulkova with a toe injury.

Cibulkova will next play Serbian fourth seed Ana Ivanovic.

The women's tournament is the strongest in the Kremlin Cup's 19-year history, with eight of the world's top 10 taking part. Only world number two Serena Williams and number six Maria Sharapova are missing.

(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2008)