Pierce should hold her nerve to claim title

There were two telling moments in the Mary Pierce press conference three hours after her semi-final against Martina Hingis.

The first was an apology for keeping everyone at Roland Garros waiting while she sat attached to an IV drip waiting for severe cramping to abate. It was a small effort which pointed to Pierce's ability to manage a media she must deal with all of the time.

Then, midway through the interview, having answered several questions fluently in English and French, she turned to her chaperone and mewed: "Like, do I have to do these questions in French and English?"

Her minder nodded and the old Mary turned to the audience, her face frosted.

The French have avidly focused on Pierce to the exclusion of her opponent, Conchita Martinez, and she is receiving the kindest attention of her career.

While Martinez, like Pierce, has won a Grand Slam, at Wimbledon - Pierce won the Australian Open - her place in the final is seen more in terms of Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario's collapse in the semi-final. But Pierce has beaten Hingis and Monica Seles, the first and third seeds.

The cramping will ensure that Martinez will keep her on court as long as possible. But with the powder-keg ground stokes Pierce possesses, only a bout of nerves should deny her the title.

"I remember in 1994 when I was in the final, I was extremely nervous," said Pierce. "And then I got to that day and I was nervous about the whole thing. I still get tight, but I've learned from that."