Bausch & Lomb Championships

Capriati has not won a title for over a year

Jennifer Capriati was made to battle before booking her place in the quarter-finals at the expense of Paola Suarez.

The third seed dropped the first set before recovering for 2-6 6-2 7-5 win.

Capriati has returned to tournament play for the first time since losing last month's Nasdaq-100 Open final in Miami to Serena Williams.

The American has not won a title since winning her second Australian Open in January 2002.

She pulled out of last week's WTA Tour event in Charleston because of a sore throat, and came to Amelia Island for her first clay-court event of the year.

Elena Dementieva joined her in the last eight with a 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 victory over eighth-seeded Amanda Coetzer.

Dementieva has reached her second tour quarter-final this month, after upsetting Coetzer, who won her ninth career title on clay in Acapulco, Mexico last month.

Dementieva will play fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova, who beat 16th-seeded Alexandra Stevenson 6-4 3-6 6-2.

Monica Seles, seeded six, made smooth progress with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Nathalie Dechy of France.

Seventh seed Patty Schnyder also advanced, defeating in-form American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-2 4-6 6-2.