PIERCE, MARY
France
Born 15 January 1975 in Montreal, Canada
Height: 5' 10" 1/2 (1.80 cm)
[Active 1989-2006]
1995 Australian and 2000 French Open Champion. In addition Pierce won the 2000 French doubles with Martina Hingis and the 2005 Wimbledon Mixed doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi.
Thunder and lightening. The tumultuous drama of a turbulent life in the spotlight seemed her destiny, but on two major occasions lightening struck gold for the blonde who could lay claim to being from three countries.
Her father first brought her to tennis at age ten. Born in Canada to a French mother, she was sent to a tennis camp in France at age 13, leaving within a month. Papa Jim Pierce was American, but his volatile temper hindered efforts to get the American USTA to support his daughter's career. The French stepped in, thus the basically American girl with glasses (she later switched to contacts on court) was a French National.
1993 was her first step up the ladder to the top 10. Pierce played her first Aussie Open, losing just 9 games in four matches to reach the quarterfinals. At that stage she lost after holding 3 match points to Gabriela Sabatini 4-6 7-6 (14-12) 6-0. She made headlines for other reasons when her father was accused of verbal and physical abuse of his daughter. After an altercation at the French Open Jim Pierce was barred from the tour for life-having the dubious distinction of being the first parent this happened to. A more relaxed Pierce proceeded to move higher up the rankings.
The 1994 French Open provided a bolt from the blue. Mary lost only 4 games in getting to the semifinals, an Open Era record. Proving this was no fluke, she dismantled world #1 Steffi Graf 6-2 6-2. Blown off the court by a torrent of winners, Graf predicted "if Mary plays like she did today she'll win it." (1995 World of Tennis). Alas, a combination of nerves, a rain delay that slowed down the court and blunted her power, and the cagy Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario dashed Pierce's dream. Her 6-4 6-4 loss was respectable but devastating. In following years early defeats at Roland Garros resulted in showers of boos from what Pierce called a "fickle" French crowd.
Redemption of a sort followed in 1995. With Steffi Graf absent Pierce steamrolled through the Australian Open, squashing world #2 Conchita Martinez 6-3 6-1 and #2 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-3 6-2. When she was hot Pierce was untouchable. When not she could be anyone's victim.
In style Pierce was languid looking-at times she resembled an iceberg in slow motion. Her glaring weaknesses were a lack of mobility and consistency when her power game went off track. When lacking confidence her game could quickly fall to pieces.
On the positive side her forehand was crushing. Her two-handed backhand was also powerful, if a tad less consistent. Not a natural at the net, nonetheless when she on Pierce could crack serves and swing volleys. Tall, muscular and capable of beating anyone, Mary Carillo coined the phrase
"Big Babe tennis" to describe Mary's game.
From 1995 to 1999 the Frenchwoman remained a top ten player who also lived with the tag "one slam wonder". Another major victory appeared to be elusive despite many trips to the quarters and semis of majors.
Lightening struck again at the 2000 French Open.
Mary had dropped only 13 games in four matches coming into the quarters, where a true test from #3 seed Monica Seles lay waiting. An enraptured Court Centrale watched as Mary's forehand raked the court and kissed lines.
Top seed Martina Hingis was the next test. On a windy day Pierce held her nerve to take the first set, only to blink when serving for the match at 5-3. Hingis snatched the set 7-5. But Hingis seemed to fold up in the third, as the partisan crowd cheered Mary on to a 6-2 third set date with destiny.
Pierce was favored in the final over Conchita Martinez, but French fans recalled 1994 all too well. With half of France glued to the TV her dream came true at last. In a routine match Pierce won 6-2 7-5. The occasion was anything but routine, as Gallic pride swelled. This was the first French female to win Roland Garros since Francoise Durr in 1967. To sweeten the fairy tale fortnight she even won the doubles with Martina Hingis.
Pierce attributed her victory to increased spirituality. She sported a large crucifix and an eye catching black dress. One of Mary's many rituals was to finger the crucifix in between points.
Another factor may have been making peace with her father. Long estranged, he had helped her train in February. In her victory speech Pierce thanked the man who arguably had the largest share in shaping her life, for better or worse. Some also cited her relationship with fiance Roberto Alomar. Mary later broke the engagement with the pro baseball star.
Truth be told, Pierce may have a French passport, but she is scarcely more Gallic than the Juan Valdez coffee served at the Roland Garros food court. Her father is American. She was born in Montreal, grew up in Florida and can often be found at the suburban Cleveland--Cleveland!--home of her beau, Indians second baseman Roberto Alomar. Pierce has never resided in France for more than a few months, and her French is junior-year-abroad level. Midway through the tournament one cynical French journalist asked Pierce if she was the most American of the French players or merely the most French of the Americans. Awkwardly she replied, "A little of both."-Jon Wertheim, from his 2000 article "Hail Mary"
For all the talk of her up and down results, Mary Pierce had been a mainstay of the top ten for 6 of the last 7 years in 2000.
One indicator of consistency was the fact that she won a tour title every year from 1991 to 2000. Only an injury in 2001 broke this streak. First ankle tendonitus, then a lumbar spine injury kept her off the tour most the year after February. By year's end her ranking plummeted to #130. The powerful Pierce returned to tennis in 2002 but could not find form again until 2005.
2005-A Last Hurrah
French fans were again excited by her 2005 run at Roland Garros. Mary fell flat in the final there against Justine Henin, dropping a dissapointing 6-1 6-1 final. Pierce never took to gras as a surface, making her Wimbledon title in the Mixed doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi a pleasant surprise. After a victory in San Diego she blasted her way into the US Final, only to easily lose again to a Belgian-the only difference being this time it was to Kim Clijsters Weeks later an indoors title in Moscow propelled her into the WTA Championships, where Mary again made a big final, losing a heartbreaking 5-7 7-6 6-3 match to fellow Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo. Despite the defeat at #5 in the rankings her comeback seemed complete.
Sadly injuries intervened at this point. Hopeful of a return, her body would not allow it. A cringe worthy injury on court in late 2006 was her final match on tour.
Hers was a career most women could only dream of. 14 quarterfinals or better in majors, and oddly enough she never lost in the 6 semifinals was in at majors.
[From her WTA Bio sketch in 2006]
Enjoys reading and studying the Bible, listening to Christian music, going to church and missionary trips to Africa, swimming, walking, cycling, boating, jet skiing, going to the beach, the spa, wildlife/animals, playing cards, all board games and puzzles ... Favorite color is white; favorite cuisine is Japanese food with green tea and LOTS of ginger ... Has two long-haired Chihuahuas, Gilbert and Ginger.
Career Summary:
Singles matches: 511 - 237 (.683%)--Won 18 tour titles and 2 ITF titles
Doubles matches: 197-116 (.629%)--Won 10 tour titles and 4 ITF titles
Highest Singles ranking: #3 on 30 January 1995 (after winning the Australian Open)
Highest Doubles ranking: #3 on 10 July 1995 (having recently won the French Open with Hingis)
SINGLES
Winner (18): 2005 - San Diego, Moscow; 2004 - 's-Hertogenbosch; 2000 - Hilton Head, Roland Garros; 1999 - Linz; 1998 - Paris [Indoors], Amelia Island, Moscow, Luxembourg; 1997 - Rome; 1995 - Australian Open, Tokyo [Nichirei]; 1993 - Filderstadt; 1992 - Cesena, Palermo, San Juan; 1991 - Palermo; 1990 - ITF/New Braunfels; 1989 - ITF/Pa York, PA-USA.
Finalist (23): 2006 - Paris [Indoors]; 2005 - Roland Garros, US Open, Tour Championships; 2004 - Paris [Indoors]; 1999 - Gold Coast, Hamburg, Rome, Filderstadt; 1998 - San Diego; 1997 - Australian Open, Amelia Island, Berlin, Tour Championships; 1996 - Amelia Island; 1995 - Paris [Indoors], ZĂĽrich; 1994 - Houston, Roland Garros, Leipzig, Filderstadt, Philadelphia; 1993 - Palermo.
DOUBLES
Winner (10): 2003 - Los Angeles (w/Stubbs); 2000 - Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Roland Garros (both w/Hingis); 1999 - Toronto (w/Novotna), Leipzig (w/Neiland); 1998 - Amelia Island (w/Cacic), Moscow (w/Zvereva); 1997 - Hamburg (w/Huber); 1996 - Tokyo [Nichirei] (w/Coetzer); 1991 - Palermo (w/Langrova); 1990 - ITF/New Braunfels, TX-USA (w/Santrock), ITF/Brindisi-ITA (w/Testud); 1989 - ITF/Ranoke, VA-USA, ITF/Pa York, PA-USA (both w/McCarthy).
Finalist (6): 2003 - 's-Hertogenbosch (w/Petrova); 2000 - Sydney, Australian Open (both w/Hingis); 1994 - Paris [Indoors] (w/Temesvari); 1992 - Philadelphia (w/MartĂnez); 1990 - Sao Paulo (w/Spadea).
MIXED DOUBLES
Winner (1): 2005 - Wimbledon (w/Bhupathi).
Grand Slam highlights (2 wins, 4 finals, 8 quarterfinals)
Australia---Won (1995), QF (1993, 1998, 1999)
French-----Won (2000), RU (1994, 2005), QF (2002)
Wimbledon--QF (1996, 2005)
US Open----RU (2005),QF (1994, 2009)
WTA Tour Finals
RU (1997, 2005), SF (1993-1994), QF 1998, 1999)
WTA Year End Rankings
1989: #236
1990: #106
1991: #26
1992: #13
1993: #12
1994: #5
1995: #5
1996: #20
1997: #7
1998: #7
1999: #5
2000: #7
2001: #130
2002: #52
2003: #33
2004: #29
2005: #5
2006: #79
With the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in 2000-the apex of her tennis career
Sources:
1995 World of Tennis, pages 63-64, 305-306.
1997 Corel WTA Tour Player Guide. page 190-191
2001 World of Tennis. Pages 18, 82-84, 352-355.
2005 Official Guide to Tennis. Pages 166-167
Jenkins, Sally. "Persona Non Grata.
Sports Illustrated. 23 August 1993.
Leand, Andrea. "There's Something About Mary".
Tennis. October 1998, Vol. 34 Issue 6, p20
Malinowski, Mark. "The World According To Mary Pierce".
Tennis. September 2000, Vol. 36 Issue 7, p20
Wertheim, Jon. "Hail Mary". Sports Illustrated. 19 June 2000.
Hail Mary The prayers of a more devout Mary Pierce, not to mention those of long-suffering French fans, were finally answered in Paris
Players | WTA Tennis English
http://www.tennisforum.com/73543617-post27.html [Video from 2006 showing injury-not for the faint of heart]
