In Sports with United Press International

Williams, Seles advance in Paris

PARIS, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Venus Williams advanced easily to the quarterfinals in her debut at the $585,000 Open Gaz de France tennis event Wedneday.

Williams, who took last week off after losing to Monica Seles in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory over fellow American Meilen Tu. She had received a first-round bye.

Third seed and defending champion Amelie Mauresmo of France defeated Anna Kournikova of Russia at this event for the second straight year. Mauresmo, who earned a bye into the second round, defeated Kournikova, 6-3, 7-5 in another second round match Wednesday.

The fifth-seeded Seles also moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over faces Barbara Schett of Austria. Seles, who improved to 6-0 lifetime vs. Schett, is coming off a runner-up showing at the Pan Pacific Open last week.

Mickelson seeks 3rd straight Buick Open

LA JOLLA, Calif., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Phil Mickelson is set to begin his quest for a third straight Buick Open championship on home grounds that don't look very familiar any longer. Everything has been completely rearranged.

The San Diego native seeks a rare three-peat in the $3.6 million event that begins Thursday at Torrey Pines, a course that has been revamped since the lefthander made it back-to-back wins with a bizarre playoff triumph over Frank Lickliter II last year.

The last player to win the same event three straight years was Tiger Woods, who captured the Memorial Tournament and World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational in 1999-2001.

The South Course, which is played exclusively for the final two rounds, has been redesigned by architect Rees Jones. All tees, fairways, bunkers and greens were reconstructed, with many of the greens closer to cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean.

The course was lengthened by almost 500 yards, stretching it to 7,607 yards, the longest on the PGA Tour this year. The par-5 18th hole, formerly a 498-yarder, is now 575 yards.

The North Course, which golfers use in one of the first two rounds, was expanded by nearly 200 yards.

Mickelson, off to a good start, won the Bob Hope Classic last month. .

Atlanta listed as possible fight site

ATLANTA, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The proposed Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson heavyweight championship fight could be held in Atlanta if certain financial requirements are met, according to Lewis promoter Gary Shaw.

Shaw confirmed he has received inquiries from parties in Georgia but no official offers have been made, he said. It would take a guaranteed fight fee of about $12 million to draw interest of Lewis-Tyson promoters.

Carl Adkins, assistant general manager of the Georgia Dome, said there has been an inquiry about holding the fight in the Dome on April 6, the date the bout was to have been held in Las Vegas before Tyson was denied as Nevada boxing license.

Astros sign lelfty reliever

HOUSTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Well-travelled lefthander Chuck McElroy agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Houston Astros Wednesday and was invited to spring training.

McElroy split last season between the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, going 2-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 49 appearances. He was acquired by the Padres just before the trade deadline and appeared in 31 of San Diego's final 63 games in 2001.

The 34-year-old McElroy is 38-30 with 17 saves and a 3.68 ERA in 654 games with nine teams. McElroy had made 603 consecutive relief appearances before allowing three hits over five scoreless innings in his first major league start against the Oakland Athletics on Sept.20, 2000.