A Slideshow Of Mary's Career

June 1994.

Playing her first match on grass, Mary lost to15-year-old Ludmila Varmuzova in an under-21 event at Eastbourne.

June 20,1994.

 Mary withdrew from Wimbledon without initially giving any reasons, similar to the one by Seles in 1991. But then notification came through with the reasons and the official party line was

"My absence and withdrawal would serve the best interest of the Championships ,the dedicated and non-partial fans ,and lastly my mother, brother and myself".

She had come to this decision after consultation with her mother Yannick. Reading the lines one got the impression that father Jim had something to do with this. He had sold his story to the British rag tabloid newspapers and was going to make an appearance in London apparently to torment the teenage Mary.

Mary's original inclusion into the draw was greeted with pleasure. Her efforts in beating Graf were applauded ,and she was seen as a bright spark in the dull and boring women's circuit. However the publicity that surrounded her arrival in England began to take it's toll. The trash-papers published not too flattering photographs and the pressure was starting to mount. Georgina Clark, director of the WTA's European office said 

"when I saw Mary at Eastbourne she was so bubbly even after she lost. But by Saturday she was a different player. She was very disappointed about pulling out."

Adding to the turmoil was the fact that she drew compatriot Halard-Decugis in the first round.(Halard had beaten Mary at Berlin just before the French Open.). Billie Jean King was blunt enough to say that this was Mary's sole reason for withdrawal and jealous compatriot Nathalie Tauziat eager to pounce on Pierce and criticize her, heartily agreed .

 It had been strongly rumored that Mary had received 2 death threats with an indication that she would be murdered if she played at The All England Club, but the WTA and the club denied this.

Boris Becker who at the time, shared the same coach as Mary, said   
"It's quite a new life for her and having a father like this what could she do? Everything has been so fast. In 4 weeks she's supposed to save women's tennis."