Mary Pierce

Pierce's break from her father proved to be a turning point in her career. In 1994 she reached the quarter finals of the U.S. Open and the finals of the French Open. In 1995 she won her first Grand Slam tournament by beating Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, 6-3, 6-2, in the Australian Open. Feeling the pressure from fans to continue winning, Pierce's game slumped for the remainder of the year and into 1996. By 1997 she was back on track, reaching the finals of Australian Open and the fourth round in the U.S. Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon. In 1998 she was once again in the top ten, with a No. 6 ranking.

Pierce won the French Open in 2000, giving her a second Grand Slam singles title. Seeded sixth in the tournament, Pierce beat third and first seeds, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis, and then overcame Conchita Martinez, 6-2, 7-5, in the final round. She also won the doubles championship at the 2000 French Open, teaming with Hingis. An injury forced Pierce to sit out much of the 2001 season, but she returned in 2002; her best finish was the quarter finals of the French Open.

In 2001 Pierce forged a partial reconciliation with her father. He sporadically helped her train, but Pierce has yet to ask the WTC to lift the ban on her father's attendance courtside. Pierce has refused to answer questions regarding her father, maintaining that their relationship is a private matter. In November 2001, Pierce ended her engagement to professional baseball player, Roberto Alomar. She lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her two long-haired Chihuahuas, Gilbert and Ginger. Over the course of her dramatic and often melodramatic career, Pierce has earned more than $6 million on the court.