If Mirjana Lucic-Baroni hadn’t been a tennis player, she would have become an archaeologist, happy to explore the ruins of Rome or her native Croatia.
History is important for Lucic-Baroni, as are dates — especially July 24, 1998.
That was the day she, her mother and four siblings slipped away in the dead of night from Croatia, escaping the clutches of a father whom she accused of violence and abuse.
“I was able to have peace and love. I was able to live with my family really happy,” said the 33-year-old who defeated third seed and 2014 runner-up Simona Halep 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday to make the French Open third round for the first time since 2001.
They started a new life in Florida, but her game faltered because of financial constraints and she disappeared from the tour for seven years.
“I take a lot of strength and pride in what I went through in my life, the difficulties,” added Lucic-Baroni, who also stunned Halep at the 2014 US Open.
“I think I know for a fact that a lot of people couldn’t do it, what I went through and come back and fight the way I did and do things.
“So I take a lot of pride in that. That I was stubborn, that I believed in myself and I was strong enough to be here today, because it’s really pretty nice.”
Lucic-Baroni, who reached a career high of 32 back in 1998, set a series of records in the 1990s.
She won the women’s doubles at the Australian Open in 1998 with Martina Hingis when she was only 15.
She also won the first ever professional tournament she entered, the 1997 Croatian Open, and defended it the following year at 16, making her the youngest player in history to successfully defend a title.
At Wimbledon in 1999 she reached the semi-finals. Just 17 and ranked 134 at the time, it took Steffi Graf to beat her.
But as her relationship with her father Marinko deteriorated her career slumped.
Now at 70 in the world, Lucic-Baroni’s last run to the Paris third round in 2001 — when she was still a teenager — was ended by Jennifer Capriati.
This time around, her last-32 opponent will be French hope Alize Cornet.
Whatever happens, she says she will always take heart from her earlier successes and that there will be no regrets.
“I feel like I missed my best years,” said Lucic-Baroni, who has been approached on many occasions to write her life story.
“It’s a part of my life, so of course I remember it very well. When I look at it, I’m very proud of the things I have achieved so young.
“I’m very proud of that little girl.”