World number one Andre Agassi overcame a 0-2 deficit in the third set to reach the quarter- finals of the 2.5 million dollar Paris Open on Thursday.

The American disposed of Dutch qualifier Sjeng Schalken 6-4, 3- 6, 6-2, improving their encounter record to 4-0 in his favor.

Agassi will meet Australian serve machine Mark Philippoussis, who hurled a barrage of serves passing the 200kph mark to thrash British tenth seed Tim Henman 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

The match of the day saw French 15th seed Cedric Pioline oust Australian Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) in their Davis Cup final dress rehearsal to reach the quarter-finals.

The 30-year-old Frenchman now faces American qualifier and former French Open champion Michael Chang who brushed aside John van Lottum of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-2.

Elsewhere, Jim Courier downed 1996 champion Thomas Enqvist of Sweden, advancing 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 to become the third American through to the last eight.

Courier next takes on Russian Marat Safin, who drubbed experienced Swiss Marc Rosset, a final loser to Agassi in 1994, 6- 4, 6-4.

Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador became only the fourth seed at number 11 to advance to the last eight after he beat Spain's Albert Costa 6-2, 7-5.