age
50 years
15/01/1975
born at
Montréal (Canada)
PRO CAREER
1989 - 2006
17 years
Main hand
right
Two-handed backhand
age
50 years
15/01/1975
born at
Montréal (Canada)
PRO CAREER
1989 - 2006
17 years
Main hand
right
Two-handed backhand
Although she never ranked higher than number three in the world, Mary Pierce defeated all the great players of her era, from Graf and Hingis to Davenport, Clijsters and Henin. Coached by a tyrannical father whom she despised, the Montreal native managed to build a successful career without him, winning the most impressive French tournament of the Open Era. Mary Pierce also made one of the most out-of-this-world shots in the history of tennis: the legendary lob between the legs at the French Open quarter-finals in 2000, as a stupefied Monica Seles looked on. Despite a bout of shoulder tendinitis that plagued her throughout the entire fortnight, the French player ultimately took home the tournament trophy. Just before winning that major, the greatest moment of her career, Pierce had turned to religion, which subsequently enabled her to manage her career with peace of mind and to even forgive her father. Racked by various physical ailments, Mary Pierce left the tour 2006, but not without posting an incredible 2005 season boasting two more Grand Slam final appearances. Hats off!
Titles
18
Finals
23
Higher ranking
3
WTA Singles, 30/01/1995