The 2001 finalist, girldfriend of men's number one Lleyton Hewitt, said her eating regime that year was a little repetitive.

"Two years ago when I reached the finals I ate the same thing every day. It became difficult for the people who live with me.

"But now Lleyton makes me compromise."

MONEY NOT ALWAYS ROUTE OF ALL EVILMoney is not always the route of all evil, even if it is not in short supply in the higher echelons of tennis.

The men's champion will take home 840,000 euros and the women's champion 819,000 - but in the 'good old days' of 30 years ago the financial incentives to win were much lower.

Prize-money has increased by some 4000 percent in money terms since Bjorn Borg first lifted the trophy in 1974.

The cash haul clearly didn't matter much as winning to Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to triumph here to date in 1983.

Asked what he would do with his prize-money, worth 1000,000 euros at the time, he said: "Damn, I forgot to go and pick up my cheque. I hope they've not gone off on holiday."

MORE TO IT THAN POWERSerena Williams is the most powerful player in the world, but that alone will not see her home against French hope Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals.

Mauresmo says with the crowd behind her she can neutralise the American's power.

"If she plays the best she's ever plays and makes no mistakes she can beat everyone - but I beat her only two weeks ago (in Rome). Mentally, that win makes a big difference. I will take my chances - and I'll have fun out there!"

A transport strike in Paris, however, threatened to diminish the centre court crowd getting behind Mauresmo.

MARTINA STILL A MOTIVATORMartina Navratilova may have been knocked out of the mixed doubles alongside India's Leander Paes - but at 46 she is still proud to be a role model for athletes who have long reached the veteran stage.

Asked what she still enjoyed about playing the winner of 167 singles titles and 168 doubles titles, including this year's Australian Open mixed doubles, said she was carrying on competing for "the love of the game.

"It's fantastic to think I can motivate other women - to continue playing, to hit the ball and be in good physical shape."

HEWITT HOWLERLleyton Hewitt can thank his lucky stars he is a tennis player and not a tipster. Asked after his third round defeat to Tommy Robredo how far the Spaniard would go in the tournament, the Australian shot back "Next round." meaning he would be swept away by three-times former winner Gustavo Kuerten.

Robredo had other ideas, knocking out the Brazilian in four sets to reach the quarter-finals.

It remains to be seen whether Hewitt will suffer the ignominy of Britain's Greg Rusedski who forecast imminent defeat for Pete Sampras after losing to him in a third round five-setter at last year's US Open. Sampras went on to beat Andre Agassi in the final.