Meligeni's 6-1, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 victory over 14th seed Felix Mantilla made him the fourth South American into the quarters at Roland Garros -- a first since tennis went open to professionals in 1968.

For Meligeni, the Centre Court victory was especially sweet as it was his first victory over Mantilla in six meetings.

Having beaten world number three Patrick Rafter in four sets in the third round, Meligeni's confidence was high but Spanish clay-court specialist Mantilla was an entirely different proposition to the serve-and-volleying Australian.

Meligeni, though, continued where he had left off on Saturday and counter-punched his way to victory in three hours and seven minutes.

Earlier, on the Suzanne Lenglen court, Meligeni's Davis Cup partner and 1997 French Open champion Kuerten destroyed Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

The mannerof the 98-minute victory underlined his status as favourite for the title he won as a virtual unknown in 1997.

If the Brazilian does win Roland Garros, he will become only the third player to win the `Red Slam' -- Monte Carlo Open, Italian Open and French Open -- in one season.

Thomas Muster managed it in 1995 and Ilie Nastase in 1973.

The 40th-ranked Ulihrach started the match in sensational style, slamming winner after winner on to the lines as he race into a 3-0 lead in just 10 minutes.

But Kuerten, dressed from head to toe in black, quickly rose to the challenge and started brutally belting balls past the Czech.

A handful of double-faults and overhit groundstrokes from Ulihrach allowed Kuerten back into the set and he served out, to love, for 6-4 in 32 minutes.

Kuerten raised his game to an even higher level in the second set and a break of serve seemed inevitable.

It came in the fourth game when, with Ulihrach leading 30-0, the right-hander from Florianopolis blitzed four winners.

Sixgames later, Kuerten again served out to love to win the second set 6-4.

A succession of sizzling returns broke Ulihrach's serve in the next game and from then on, there was no way back for the Czech with Kuerten refusing to let his opponent play.

The court began to resemble a firing range as the Brazilian continued to release big booming shots from either wing and Ulihrach wearily attempted to run them down.

The Czech was able to hold his serve just twice in the final set as Kuerten again served out for victory, this time 6-2.

How the Seeds Fared

Fourth round: (Men's) 8-Marcelo Rios (Chile) bt Alberto Berasategui (Spain) 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3;13- Andre Agassi bt 4-Carlos Moya (Spain) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-1; 8-Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) bt Bohdan Ulihrach (Czech) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; Fernando (Brazil) bt 14-Felix Mantilla (Spain) 6-1,5-7, 7-5, 7-6

Fourth round (Women): 6-Steffi Graf (Germany) bt Anna Kournikova (Russia) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4); 2-Monica Seles (US) bt Julie Halard Decugis (France) 6-1, 7-5;Barbara Schwartz (Austria) bt 5-Venus Williams (US) 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3

Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) bt Marat Safin (Russia) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.