By Chris Davies
January 15 2004

Mary Pierce a former winner and runner-up at the Australian Open has decided not to attend this years first Grand Slam due to her fitness level The French star who is a crowd favourite helped France win the Fed Cup last year showed great form during the team event.

Pierce who has been hampered with injuries since winning the 2000 French Open title has struggled with form but slowly getting back into fantastic shape.

"Believing her level of physical fitness to be lacking, Mary has decided to pull out of the Open," a statement from the French Tennis Federation read.

It added: "She should return to competition during the Paris Indoor Open, which starts on 9 February."