Tennis: Pierce clinches crown in front of home crowd
Saturday, 10 June 2000 18:43
France's Mary Pierce has won the French Open following a two set victory over Spain's Conchita Martinez, by a score of 6-2, 7-5.
Pierce, seeded sixth, became the first Frenchwoman since Francoise Durr in 1967 to win at Roland Garros. In an exhilarating match, the Spaniard pushed the semi-final conqueror of Martina Hingis all the way, before eventually going down in just less than two hours. This was Pierce's first grand slam victory since her 1995 Australian Open win.
Tomorrow, fifth seeded Brazilian, Gustavo Kuerten, will meet third seed and World Number 1, Magnus Norman of Sweden, in the final of the men's singles at Roland Garros. Kuerten, a former champion in Paris, was taken to five sets by 16th seeded Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero while earlier, Norman needed just three sets to dispatch Argentina's Franco Squillari.
Last night, David Adams and Mariaan de Swardt picked up the first of the silverware when they won the mixed doubles.
Back at home, Owen Casey continued his great form at the Futures Event at Mount Pleasant in Dublin yesterday. Casey beat the Number 8 seed, Helge Koll of Norway, in straight sets to advance to the semi-final. Scott Barron, though, was beaten. Barron was defeated by Gilles Elseneer by two sets to one, 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.
- 6.01 News: Joe Stack reports on Mary Pierce's victory
