Mary Pierce's decline began soon after she became the only French-woman since 1967 to win the French Open.
In a span of less than two years, she hurt her shoulder, back, ankle and abdomen. She tumbled from the top 10 out of the top 100. More than a decade into her career, she seemed on the brink of retirement.
Instead, Pierce is back for another try at Roland Garros -- and is into the semifinals at a Grand Slam event for the first time since she won the 2000 title.
PHOTO: AFP
"It has been a really interesting journey," she said Tuesday after beating top-ranked Lindsay Davenport 6-3, 6-2. "It has been really tough. I've had some difficult moments. ... I really savor victories now more than before. They mean more to me now because I went through difficult times."
Born in Montreal and raised in the US, the 30-year-old Pierce has trained in Paris for the past year and is a French citizen because her mother is a native of the country. Roland Garros fans have jeered her in defeat and mocked her American accent when she spoke French, but the center-court crowd cheered as she closed in on a victory over Davenport.
Pierce paused to soak up the ambiance.
"I just took a moment," said Pierce, seeded 21st. "I just said, `This is going to make for good memories for later on in my life.' I just really wanted to appreciate that moment."
Her opponent Thursday will be 16th-seeded Elena Likhovtseva of Russia, who advanced to a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time in her 12-year career by beating 15-year-old Sesil Karatantcheva 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The other semifinal will match 2003 champion Justine Henin-Hardenne against another Russian, No. 7 Nadia Petrova.
Henin-Hardenne, bidding for her fourth Grand Slam title, advanced by beating No. 2-seeded Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-2. Petrova reached the semifinals at Roland Garros for the second time by eliminating 17-year-old Serb Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-2.
Like Pierce, Henin-Hardenne has staged a career comeback. She missed much of last year with a blood virus that left her bedridden, and her return was delayed until March by a knee injury.
Since then she has gone 25-1, winning 22 consecutive matches, all on clay.
"I'm a little surprised the way I came back. It was very quick," Henin-Hardenne said. "I enjoy every single moment, each point."
She saved some of her best tennis for Sharapova, using her vast repertoire of shots to keep the 1.83m Russian scrambling.
Although she's seeded only 10th, Henin-Hardenne began the tournament as the favorite. She survived three three-set matches, overcame two match points against Svetlana Kuznetsova and finds her game improving at the right time.
"I would be surprised if she didn't win it," Sharapova said. "If she keeps her level up, she has a great chance."
Sharapova's loss means Davenport will remain No. 1 next week. Sharapova had hoped to overtake Davenport in the rankings and claim No. 1 for the first time.
"I'm surprised I was able to hold onto it considering I didn't play at all in Europe except here," said Davenport, who took a monthlong break before Paris because clay is her least-favorite surface. "I'm not sad to see the clay-court season pass."
The men's semifinals Friday will feature a much-anticipated rematch between No. 4-seeded Rafael Nadal and top-ranked Roger Federer. Nadal has won 22 consecutive matches since blowing a two-set lead and losing to Federer in the final at Key Biscayne two months ago.
"Everybody has been looking forward a little bit to this one," Federer said. "It's going to be really interesting to see."
Federer beat unseeded Victor Hanescu 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-3. Nadal overcame three set points in the opening set and defeated fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.
Federer and Nadal both reached the Roland Garros semifinals for the first time, and they'll meet on Nadal's 19th birthday. Count the young Spaniard among those who consider Federer the favorite.
"He has been playing very well," Nadal said. "Obviously it's an important match, and a wonderful match to play. I hope I'll enjoy it."
Putting Ilie Nastase, John McEnroe, Yannick Noah and Jose-Luis Clerc on the court together guarantees some fun.
Noah and McEnroe, kindred free spirits, were teammates in the over-45 category Tuesday at the French Open.
For the first set, they took things seriously. Then came the clowning.
Clerc smacked a ball way off the court, while Noah sat in the umpire's chair and ordered the umpire to play with McEnroe. When Noah finally climbed down, he sprinted around the court, chasing ballboys and ballgirls.
Unhappy with a line call, Clerc grabbed the umpire playfully by the throat.
As McEnroe prepared to serve, Nastase coughed loudly while Clerc cleared his throat.
McEnroe complained, so Clerc slung his racket at him. McEnroe picked it up and tossed it to a spectator wearing a business suit.
McEnroe and Noah won, 6-3, 6-2.
"It's a lot of fun with Yannick. We're going all the way," McEnroe said.
Noah returned the compliment.
"It's a pleasure to have him as a partner. It would be a lot harder otherwise," the 1983 French Open champion said. "He's still got a great touch."
Noah kidded the 58-year-old Nastase, the winner at Roland Garros in 1973.
"Hey grandfather, you're still playing well," he said.
Nastase, who rolled back the years with a couple of superb lobs, felt Clerc let him down. Grabbing a courtside microphone, he denounced his teammate.
"It's not a pleasure to play with him. His eyesight's so bad," Nastase joked.
BEDTIME STORY
Maria Sharapova is rich and famous but still a child at heart.
The Wimbledon champion said she needs a comforting bedtime story before turning the lights off at night.
"I'm a huge fan of kids' books," Sharapova said, after losing to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the French Open quarterfinals. "They always make you smile and make you laugh. They always make you think there's no negative things in life."
SHIRTLESS PROTEST
With Pierce serving for a place in the semifinals at 5-0 in the second set against top-ranked Lindsay Davenport, a fan charged onto the court, and peeled off his T-shirt. Scribbled on his chest in big letters was a message to French president Jacques Chirac, who reshuffled his cabinet Tuesday after a humiliating referendum defeat on the European constitution he supported.
"Chirac-Villepin, Resign!" the fan's chest read.
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