26
The Forgotten Champion, Mary Pierce
11 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
There was Mary Pierce, sitting in the last row at the Sarasota Open, watching Ivo Karlovic play Denys Molchanov, with a female companion.
For a few games, I sat down the same row about 20 feet to her right, there was no one between us. In the time I was there, exactly one person approached and asked her for an autograph. Perhaps Pierce was simply not recognized, perhaps nobody remembers the Montreal born blonde beauty who won two major titles.
Yes, Pierce won TWO major titles.
In 1995 in the finals of the Australia Open, Pierce, the #4 seed, crushed #1 seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 63 62, after blitzing Conchita Martinez 61 62 in the semi.
Then in 2000, playing for the French flag, Pierce crushed Conchita again in the French Open final 62 75.
Pierce also was a finalist in four other major finals – 2005 US Open, 2005 Roland Garros, 94 Roland Garros, 97 Australian. She also won a major doubles and mixed doubles title. She won 18 singles titles in all, ten in doubles.
She played from 1993-2006, reaching #3 in the world in 1995.
This was a great champion in a very difficult era, with more major titles than Michael Chang, Gabriela Sabatini, who both have been enshrined into the Newport Hall of Fame.
Talk about a great champion who has been forgotten and slipped through the cracks.
Mary Pierce deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
Mary contested in six major singles finals
tootsie · April 27, 2013 at 12:59 am
You need an editor Scoop. “There was Mary Pierce, sitting in the last row at the Sarasota Open, watching Ivo Karlovic play Denys Molchanov, with a female companion.”
Molchanov was playing with a female companion? Or was it Karlovic who was playing with a female companion? Either way, quite something for a men’s tennis tournament. Did the companion help the game of either of them? It was probably Mary Pierce, sitting with a female companion in the last row at the Sarasota Open…..
But you’re right about her deserving to be in the Hall of Fame.
Scoop Malinowski · April 27, 2013 at 7:47 am
I do need an editor sometimes and more than that after being on the road all week back traveling up north, still haven’t got my bearings. It’s good to be back north, well kind of, Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach are a very special place. It’s just paradise down there, so clean and natural and nice, the roads are so bumpy and busy up here. People are high strung too. Toots, the Hall of Fame seems to snub certain deserving foreign players who weren’t especially overly popular, Kafelnikov is a biggie, I believe Pierce is also Hall worthy. Wonder what the hold up is.
Dan Markowitz · April 27, 2013 at 8:32 am
The amazing thing about Pierce is she seems so normal, laid-back, intelligent, thoughtful after the mental barrage her father put her through. Although, Spadea said Jim Pierce is an amazing guy and the most inspirational coach he ever had. Welcome back to the New York-area, Scoop. You must’ve brought some of that warm Florida weather with you.
Steve · April 27, 2013 at 9:40 am
Totally agree Scoop. I remember her. How could anyone forget!
Scoop Malinowski · April 27, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Jim Pierce is on facebook too and he’s a cool guy for sure. Gotta respect how he got Mary to the top of tennis, against all odds. Wasn’t easy and wasn’t smooth but his plans succeeded.
Scoop Malinowski · April 27, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Two major titles out of six major finals, it’s an injustice that she is not in the Fame Steve. Maybe more people remember Pierce for her romance with Roberto Alomar of MLB. I remember her as a great player when at her best and also a very nice interview. Will post a Biofile I did with her during her pro years this week. Still remember her answer for first memory of tennis, it’s pretty cute.
Steve · April 27, 2013 at 12:50 pm
….I see Rosol is on a nice little run.
Scoop Malinowski · April 27, 2013 at 8:05 pm
Rosol had a good win in Davis Cup recently and that seems to have propelled him, he has two wins over lefty Muller this year. I bet Rosol is inspired by Nadal’s successful comeback and you just know he wants another piece of Rafa to show last year at Wimbledon was no fluke. Can anyone see a rigged Wimbledon draw this summer of Rafa vs. Rosol first round? I sure can.
Andrew Miller · April 28, 2013 at 10:47 am
For all talk of her dad, it was Mary Pierce’s brother who get her ready to take Paris, just as it was Capriati’s brother who prepared Capriati to take Paris. If her father has recovered that’s great. He was really damaging – this is beyond dispute. If they’ve moved beyond this, fantastic. Mary’s a great champion who was better than Sabatini, and I loved Sabatini’s play. Only when Justine Henin came along did I see as captivating a one hander (not to take away from Conchita). Pierce definitely is a hall of famer.
Scoop Malinowski · April 28, 2013 at 8:56 pm
I don’t know the details Andrew but Mary seems pretty normal and cool, not damaged at all. She’s a tough girl. Always liked her
Marion Bartoli,Fans · May 9, 2013 at 4:41 pm
I am very happy to read such a lovely article. Scoop yes, you’re absolutely right. I met Mary who my idol, I love it. Mauresmo was entitled to her status at museum Grévin in Paris and not Mary Pierce (who has a very good track record) is very unfair ….. Nourredine.