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Pierce cruises into second round Posted: Tuesday January 14, 2003 2:36 AMMELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) -- Finally injury-free and back where it all began, former champion Mary Pierce powered her way past Patricia Wartusch 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday to reach the second round of the Australian Open. The champion here in 1995, Pierce is now ranked 50th in the world after a series of injuries and poor form, but she rediscovered a smidgen of Melbourne Park magic to advance on a cool and cloudy day and award herself an early birthday present. Despite the comfortable win, however, the Canadian-born Frenchwoman who turns 28 on Wednesday is still unsure of her form. "I feel like I'm playing pretty well, but at the same time I'm far from where I want to be," she said after ending the Austrian's challenge. "You know, I am where I am right now ... just make the best of it. "I think what's missing -- well, what I need is just to play a lot of matches. "I haven't played a lot so I feel I need matches." Pierce, a former world No. 3 who also won the French Open in 2000, missed most of 2001 with numerous injuries which continued to plague her throughout 2002. Now, she says she is happy simply to be competing. "Not having played a lot in the last couple of years has just made me really just want to play," she smiled. "You know, I'm excited just to be out here competing." Melbourne Park certainly holds a lot of good memories for Pierce, whose Grand Slam breakthrough came here eight years ago. "I love playing here. Just on so many courts I have so many memories of matches that I've played. "This morning I saw some highlights I was playing -- they showed the year I won in '95. Just a lot of great memories, a lot of great memories, a lot of great feelings ... I love being here." A first-round loser last year, Pierce will next meet 10th seed Chanda Rubin after the American beat Hungarian qualifier Melinda Czink 6-4, 7-5. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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