This Date in French Open History: June 2

Published Jun 02, 2012

Every morning of the French Open, we'll take a look back at a memorable match that occurred on that calendar day at Roland Garros.

June 2, 1994: Mary Pierce d. Steffi Graf, 6-2, 6-2

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Mary Pierce couldn’t count on the past to provide her with much confidence for her semifinal with world No. 1 Steffi Graf. In their lone major meeting eight months earlier, Graf pummeled Pierce at the U.S. Open, 6-1, 6-0. But with stunning efficiency, the 12th-ranked Frenchwoman quickly turned the rematch into a mismatch.

Ripping shots up the line off both wings, Pierce effectively nullified Graf’s immense edge in court coverage by pounding winners and forcing the defending champion into the role of retriever. “There was very little I could do,” Graf said after the onslaught.

Pierce made history as the first player to reach the fourth round of the French Open while dropping just two games. In just her 10th Grand Slam tournament appearance, she permitted just 10 games—winning five sets at love—before her first major final. There, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario pulled the plug on the power baseliner, scoring a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Pierce's time would come. Six years later, she beat third-ranked Monica Seles in the quarterfinals and snapped a seven-match losing streak to world No. 1 Martina Hingis before sweeping Conchita Martinez in the final, becoming the first French woman to win Roland Garros since Francoise Durr in 1967.

May 27 (1992): Connors goes down swinging
May 28 (1983): Horvath spoils perfection
May 29 (1998): Safin shocks the champ
May 30 (1999): Agassi defeats Moya
May 31 (2003): Robredo's remarkable rally
June 1 (1993): Fernandez foils a friend
June 2 (1994): Pierce pummels Graf in semis
June 3 (2001): Kuerten's comeback vs. Russell
June 4 (2005): Henin, the Queen of Clay
June 5 (2010): Francesca wins the final
June 6 (1989): The underdog's underhanded serve
June 7 (1981): Borg's final final-round triumph
June 8 (1996): 10-8 in the third: Graf vs. A. S-V
June 9 (2001): Capriati's 12-10 win over Clijsters
June 10 (1990): Gomez denies flashy Agassi **

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