A Slideshow Of Mary's Career

March 1990

After a row with the USTA, Mary took up French nationality using her mother's origin. Mary recollects her early days in Paris

"The USTA didn't want my father involved, so my father says, 'Well, I am involved.' So, they said, 'Sorry.Then I guess my father asked my mother to contact the federation here, asked if they would be interested in helping me train. They said yes, and we came over. I actually lived at Roland Garros for a short while when I practiced here. It was my first time being alone really because our family was always together ... all the time ... 24 hours a day. So I had a dorm room by myself. I couldn't really speak French. I didn't know anybody. I didn't have any friends, and I was by myself. It was really tough. I probably cried every night, trying to fall asleep. It was tough practicing."

She left Roland Garros after a few weeks but stayed in France with her mother and brother, living with a French aunt. She took correspondence courses from a high school in Pinellas County.