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Davenport, Pierce move ahead while Navratilova loses

Former champions Lindsay Davenport and Mary Pierce advanced in the Bausch & Lomb Championships, but Martina Navratilova lost in her first tour singles match since 2002.

World No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium also advanced Tuesday, holding off Dinara Safina of Russia 6-4, 7-6 (6).

Navratilova, 47, lost to unheralded Milagros Sequera of Venezuela 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. Sequera replaced Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico, who withdrew with plantar fasciitis in her left foot.

Navratilova impressed to win the first set, but lost the last four games of the second, and lost her serve twice to fall behind 3-0 in the third. She rallied to 3-2 down, but was broken again in the seventh game.

"I lost it mentally," Navratilova said. "I was in and out the last two sets."

Afterward, she received a standing ovation.

"It was sweet," Navratilova said. "The people were obviously excited. It was great to be out there."

Henin-Hardenne overcame 12 double faults, including eight in the second set, and won in 1 hour, 52 minutes.

"I wasn't at my best for sure," Henin-Hardenne said. "But you need this kind of match to get used to the [clay] surface here."

American Amy Frazier recorded the only upset, ousting No. 11 Jelena Dokic of Serbia-Montenegro, 6-4, 7-5.

After a first-round bye, Davenport beat Tian Tian Sun of China 6-2, 7-5 to begin her quest for a second title this season. She won in 1997 and was runner-up last year.

Pierce was in no mood for more drama against American Meghann Shaughnessy, whom she dispatched 6-1, 6-2 in the first round with 43 winners in an hour.

In their only previous matchup last November in the Fed Cup final, Pierce won 8-6 in the third set to help France beat the US for its second title.
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