Paris - Despite ranking outside the Top 500 and last playing a match in October, 2006, France's Mary Pierce says she is not ready to call time on her career.

The Australian Open champion in 1995, finalist a dozen years ago and home champion at the French Open in 2000 suffered a serious knee injury during a match in Linz, Austria more than two years ago.

But even with her 34th birthday approaching next month, Pierce is still fighting to play on. "I don't feel it's the right moment (to quit)."

She told the sports daily L'Equipe that her dream is to once again return to the clay in Paris. "I care about Roland Garros. If I could stand on center court for one match, that would already be a major victory."

But she has not played a match since rupturing knee ligaments. (dpa)