Mary Pierce passed along a few words of advice to a handful of Britain’s junior players today while visiting the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
Pierce’s words can apply to not only the young players, but also to her own career.
The two-time Grand Slam champion visited the Centre during her trip to London for additional treatment to the knee injury she sustained a year ago in Linz. While returning a shot in her second round match against Vera Zvonareva on October 22, 2006, Pierce wrong footed, and ruptured the cruciate ligament in her left knee.
The career-threatening injury could not have come at a worst time; Pierce had just returned to the Tour after four months of dealing with a right foot injury.
In March Pierce told France’s L’Equipe that she still had a desire to compete, but would probably not return until the first part of 2008, at the earliest. She has also expressed a goal of playing for France in the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Although Pierce was not quoted as saying anything about her own comeback, she did offer a few words of wisdom to a group of eleven and twelve-year-olds. According to the Lawn Tennis Association, Pierce is taking advantage of the facilities at the NTC to help her recovery while visiting the UK.
She participated in a Q&A answer session with the children, reminding them that one of the most important things about a career in tennis is persistence, even when life gets rough.
“Never give up,” reminded Pierce. “If you feel in your heart the desire and the motivation, then keep it up.”
Pierce could not have given herself a better piece of advice as she looks to return to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in the near future.
