Reigning French Open champion Mary Pierce considers herself a top contender at next month's US Open, the last Grand Slam event of the year, if she can relax as she did at Roland Garros.
"I definitely consider myself as one of the favorites and I like my chances there," Pierce said. "If I'm peaceful and calm like in Paris I should produce my best tennis. It would be nice to have another trophy this year next to the French Open one."
After a slow start to the year, Pierce, ranked 4th in the WTA, hit her peak during the clay court season, her least favorite surface.
She captured her first French Open title this past June, downing Spain's Conchita Martinez in straight sets, and went on to win her first women's doubles Grand Slam crown of her career teaming up with top-ranked Martina Hingis.
"It's always been my dream to win the French," she said. "It was more emotionally demanding for me."
But the 25-year-old Pierce, Canadian-born but raised in Florida and playing for France, had a set back at Wimbledon. She lost in the second round to Spaniard Magui Serna.
"At Wimbledon, anything can happen. I played against somebody who had a great day," Pierce said. "She really played her best against me."
A winner of 13 WTA titles, Pierce said she planned to prepare herself for the US Open, which begins August 28, by playing tune-up tournaments next week at Stanford, California, and then at San Diego and Montreal.
Asked if she was going to aim for the number one ranking in the future, Pierce said, "I don't want to put pressure on myself anymore. I just need to play consistently and anything can happen." Pierce's Grand Slam singles crown came at the 1995 Australian Open - (AFP)
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