PORTO 2001

    Magüi played her first final in Porto. Here two interviews before playing the first round.

( Translation of the interview found on http://www.infordesporto.com/tenis/noticias/2001/Abr/04/06.asp)

    The third-seeded of The Porto’s tournament and number 27 in the WTA ranking, the Spaniard Magüi Serna, is one of the main favourites for the victory in this tournament, in singles and in doubles, where she plays with Arantxa Sánchez. This afternoon, after the oficial announcement of the matches postponement, Serna talked some minutes with INFORDESPORTO.PT, and she said that rain can influence in the fitness of all the players that take part in the tournament. “It’s obvious that the climatic conditions affect our preparation, but we have to adapt to that. Each tournament has its story, so we have to be ready for this kind of situations”, she admitted. Magüi Serna also commented that clay isn’t her favourite surface. “In spite of feeling good playing on clay, my favourite surface is grass. Besides, it’s on that surface where I’ve got the best moments in my career, reaching the quarterfinals in Wimbledon”, she said. About the Porto’s tournament, Serna expects to go far in singles and in doubles. In spite of everything, it will be easier to win in doubles, where she plays with Arantxa Sánchez. “I hope to win in both events, but due to Arantxa’s potential, who has won the US Open in doubles, it will be easier to win in doubles. But I think I can also go far in singles. You have to face each match and fight to go as far as possible”, she said. With these words, we can see how much she admires Arantxa, and when you ask her about that, she comments that Arantxa is a reference and that she would like to play her in the final.

    Talking about her personal goals for the current season, Serna expects to reach the top 15 and to win a tournament, if possible this one, she says.

    The draw has done that if she defeats her first rivals, as expected, she should face Chanda Rubin in semifinals, which in a slow surface could benefit her. “I played her once and I lost easily by 2-0. But each match has its story and I’m sure that this surface, slower and harder, benefits my characteristics. But to play there I have to win three matches, and I have to concentrate now on that”, she justified.

    To end, Serna explains us why there are so many Spanish tennis players that play this tournament and in many Grand Slams, and she gives all the responsibility to players like Sergio Bruguera, Emilio Sánchez, Conchita Martínez or Arantxa Sánchez: “Spain has always had players with a great level. They are the main responsibles, in my opinion, they have made many young people in my country to become interested in tennis”.

( Translation of the interview found on http://www.portoopen.com)

“To play with Arantxa is a motivation”

    Magüi Serna is one of the many Spanish tennis players that play in Porto, with the particularity of being the doubles partner of Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, seed one of the tournament and big star. With the Catalan champion, Serna reached last year the final of one of the most important tournaments, the Italian Open. Magüi Serna has said that she is impressed by the level of the players of the main draw and she only regrets one thing: this Canarian misses the sun, so characteristic in that Spanish archipelago.

    Q. What about your performance at this Open?

    A. The most difficult thing has been to adapt to clay because I come from a faster surface. Today rain hasn’t allowed to play, but tomorrow it’ll be a hard day. Anyway, I come here to try to do as good as possible and go the furthest here.

    Q. Is playing doubles with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario useful for the singles?

    A. To play with her, a former number one, is a very big motivation and is something all the players want. Arantxa’s career should be an example for all of us, and it’s always a pleasure to be with her on court.

    Q. What do you think of the tournament?

    A. Although it’s the first time I play here, I’m very well here. It’s well organised and the competitive level is very high. Arantxa’s and Rubin’s presence makes this tournament more demanding than others with the same prize money (140 thousand dollars)

    Q. Which are your ambitions for this season?

    A. I’ll play later in Estoril and then I’ll take a couple of weeks off. I want to be fit to improve in the ranking. My goal for this year is to be top 15.

    Q. Is it negative to play two matches in the same day?

    A. Yes, it’s an inconvenient, but I’m used to it. Sometimes we have to play a very hard singles match and later, the same day, a doubles match. It isn’t something that I like. Tomorrow, for example, if I win I’ll have to play the following match with less rest than my rival, but those are things of the competition.