Pierce ruptures cruciate ligament in left knee

Linz, October 27:

Mary Pierce needs surgery after she ruptured a cruciate ligament in her left knee at the Generali Ladies Linz.

Pierce, 31, who was hurt on Thursday in a second-round match against Vera Zvonareva, left the AKH hospital in Linz and plans to undergo treatment in France, a hospital spokes-man said on Friday.

The 29th-ranked Pierce, a former Australian and French Open winner, was 6-4, 6-5 up against Zvonareva and had missed three match points, before injuring her knee while running behind the baseline.She was carried off the court on a stretcher and taken to the hospital immediately.

Pierce had only played eight events this year due to right foot injuries.