FILDERSTADT 2001

      Interview on DSF after Magüi’s win against Meghann Shaughnessy in the first round in Filderstadt 2001.

Journalist: We have a winner at the studio: Magüi Serna. Welcome and congratulations.
The journalists always like at the beginning of a match to comment the heads to heads and say: yes, she has won all the sets against Shaughnessy.

   Does this help a player to have confidence?.

Magüi: Yes, sure, knowing you have to play a player you’ve beaten before gives you more confidence. I have played against her, she was my partner in doubles, so I know her and I was confident. I have played here maybe one of the best matches of the indoors season and I’m very happy with me.

Journalist: Yes, you have played very well, you have prepared well. We could see exactly, you have played often with your backhand from the baseline from everywhere. This is a very good way.

Magüi: Yes, specially on this kind of surfaces. I use this slice here and that’s very difficult to reach for the other player. And I think that’s one of the best shots that I have and with it I get the most important points.

Journalist: You have grown on clay in Spain, of course, but you say you really prefer faster surfaces, for example grass. I mean, you reached the quarterfinals last year in Wimbledon. And that’s difficult to understand for me. How came it? Who has inspired you, for example, your slice backhand?. Were the Sánchez brothers, for example?.

Magüi: Yes, it’s true, that when you live in Spain, you prefer clay, but I prefer to play on grass, that’s my favourite surface. I like fast surfaces much better, that’s why I prefer to play on fast surfaces.

Journalist: Your slice backhand is really dangerous. You’re one of the players of the new generation in Spain. You’ve been known for some years. You have been in the Fed Cup team. What’s the relationship with the top players, for example Arantxa Sánchez Vicario?. Is it a good relationship?

Magüi: Yes, actually, we practise in the same academy. I know Arantxa very well and of course, I often talk to her. She has much more match experience than me and that’s why it’s great to talk to someone, and also about the problems that one has in the tennis circuit, and that’s really good for young players, if they can have contact with experienced players and talk to them.

Journalist: And about Arantxa’s new small dog?.

Magüi: It’s funny, it’s very small. But she likes it, and that’s the important thing.

Journalist: You already know this tournament. It’s always heard that the atmosphere is perfect. All the players say that this is special, they like coming here. What happens with this tournament?. Which are the small things that make you say: ‘I like going to Filderstadt’?.

Magüi:  I think that the important thing is the people. I always feel here very welcomed, as if I was at home, and that’s very important when you travel and go to many cities, and the people  greet you warmly and are very kind, and when you feel at home, that’s great. Here are the best players of the tour,  a wonderful organisation, so I think this is one of the best tournaments.

Journalist: What about car driving? Do you like driving a Porsche?.

Magüi: Of course, that’s a fantastic car. I like it, of course, it’s great.

Journalist: We go back to sports things. Sandrine Testud was on the court watching the match. She could be your next rival. Are you going to watch her match or does your coach watch it?.

Magüi: Both, I mean, if I can do it, we go together to watch the match, and if I can’t, we talk about it later and we try to decide a strategy. And maybe if it’s Sandrine, we’ll see how it goes. But I know it’ll be difficult, each match is very difficult.

Journalist: I see in my notes that you have already played 27 tournaments this year. How can you play so many tournaments?. For me that’s incredible for a professional player!.

Magüi: Yes, this year it’s because I played many small tournaments after Wimbledon because Wimbledon wasn’t that good, that’s why I had to play more tournaments later, but I don’t usually play so many tournaments as this year, and I’m tired, so many weeks, so many tournaments, but that’s one of the things I had to do this because things didn’t go well at Wimbledon, and I had to compensate it with other tournaments. But it’s really tough. I don’t want to play so many tournaments next year.

Journalist: OK, many thanks for being at the studio. Good luck. Have a nice day. Many thanks, Magüi Serna.

Magüi: Thanks.