HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Mary Pierce's personal life is the best it's ever been. That's helped her reach new heights in tennis.
"She's very happy in her life, so that makes her have a good balance," said Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, who lost to the top-seeded Pierce 6-1, 6-0 Sunday in the Family Circle Cup final. "It's important. I also have that. So you feel a little bit more better with yourself."Pierce finished off a dominating week, setting a record for fewest games lost on the way to a Family Circle title. Chris Evert, an eight-time champion, dropped only 15 games to win the 1985 title. Pierce lost only 12, including a total of three to Monica Seles, the world's seventh-ranked player, and Sanchez-Vicario, rated 10th.
In the past, Pierce's talent -- she was a finalist in the French Open in 1994 and won the Australian Open the next year -- has never been questioned. But her temperament and focus were always doubted, particularly after her well-publicized estrangement from her father, Jim Pierce.
Pierce's attitude has become sublime. She wears rosary beads on the court, a cross over her heart. Her fiance, Cleveland second baseman Roberto Alomar, provides support and counsel. Her brother, David, has joined her as coach, offering a confidant's view of life traveling the globe.
"I've just become more and more relaxed on the court and just really at peace with everything," said Pierce, 25.
Pierce dumped Seles 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals. But she figured to have more trouble with Sanchez-Vicario, who won a three-hour match against Amanda Coetzer in the quarterfinals.
Instead, Pierce finished the victory at Sea Pines Racquet Club in just 57 minutes.
The Spaniard, who won this title in 1996, proved as helpless as everyone else against Pierce's powerful serves -- which often topped 110 mph -- and hard forehands.
Sanchez-Vicario trailed 2-1 in the first set. But she netted a drop shot, then hit her normally reliable forehand long for Pierce's second service break.
Sanchez-Vicario again had a chance to close ground two games later, but she sent a forehand out, stopped playing on a ball she thought was long but was ruled good and slammed the net cord on a backhand.
"The first set was much closer than it showed," Sanchez-Vicario said. "But once Mary was on a roll, she didn't miss much."
Pierce, who made her pro debut here at 14 years old in 1989, quickly ended Sanchez-Vicario's hopes in the second set. The Frenchwoman won 12 consecutive points during one stretch -- and 14 of the final 15 -- smashing forehands deep into the corners as Sanchez-Vicario stood and watched.
"It's amazing to think how far I've come since then in my tennis, in my life," Pierce said.
Pierce didn't worry about who wasn't here. Defending champion Martina Hingis did not compete. Lindsay Davenport, the world's top player, pulled out with an injury the week before. Serena Williams withdrew, citing the state's Confederate flag controversy and supporting an economic boycott of South Carolina by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
"I could have lost first round to somebody or I could have beat everybody this whole week," Pierce said. "You just don't know."
Sanchez-Vicario has lost five of her past six matches with Pierce, who collected her 14th career title and $166,000.
The tournament, which shared cramped quarters on the lush resort with the PGA Tour's MCI Classic each spring, will move two hours north to Charleston next year.
Pierce scooped out some green clay at Stadium Court with a golden shovel and placed it into a crystal vase. The clay will move with the tournament to Charleston.
"It's the last time it's going to be played here and I won the tournament," she said. "So it's really special."