(Translation from Diario La Provincia Digital (04/12/2001))
Magüi Serna: “Training in my land will give me more motivation to go on with my career”
Magüi Serna comes back to Gran Canaria after almost a decade. At the beginning of 1992 she put her three Spanish titles (lower categories) in her rucksack and she went to Switzerland with just 13 years with all the excitement of her life to try to make true her dream of becoming a tennis star. Now she comes back to her land being the number 26 in the world ranking and with the intention of climbing steps in the divas’ Olympus from the bosom of the family, with the support of her countrypeople and the complicity of the Canarian coach Fernando García Lleó. The most successful Canarian player has also in her team Joaquín Sanchís, teacher of physical preparation.
From 1996 Magüi is part of the ‘flagship’ of the Spanish tennis in its course around the world. In the last five years, she has won many things and has transmitted her hopes of future to the Spanish supporters. However, we highlight four punctual facts in her brilliant career. On the 1. March 1997, the same day she turned 18 y.o., she made her debut in the Fed Cup substituting Conchita Martínez against Belgium.
A year later she ‘saved’ the Spanish team of the relegation phase against Germany after winning her two singles points and the doubles one with Conchita, the player from Monzón, who had lost her two matches. On 3. April 1998 she defeated Jana Novotna (number 3 in the world in that moment) in Hilton Head.
It was also very important in her career her win against Mary Pierce at Roland Garros, on the Centre Court, with so many French supporters, and she took part in the Olympic Games in Sydney, she has defeated several top ten, and has faced players such as Hingis, the Williams sisters, Davenport, Seles, Kournikova...
Question: In the last years you’ve only come to your land sporadically to rest a few days from the activity in the competition, however, you’ve decided now to set your operational headquarters here.
Answer: Coming back home to be close to my people is an idea that I had been thinking of for some time, but till now I hadn’t been able to carry out. It isn’t that I was bad in Barcelona, but in the last months I had lost a little the excitement and I didn’t enjoy playing. Maybe the bad results that I have had this year in the Grand Slams have also had influence. The thing is that I have been able now to take this decision because Fernando García Lleó was here and he was available. I’ve been lucky, without any doubt.
Q: How do you face this big change in your career?.
A: With a great excitement. The fact of being here and feeling the support of my people gives me much more motivation in order to be where I am or even to try to go farther.
Q: What’s your opinion on García Lleó?.
A: Very good. It has always been that way. He knows me because before going to Switzerland we were training during a period. These days we’ve been training together I feel very happy.
Q: Are you aware that your presence here might be very important fo the evolution of the Canarian tennis?.
A: I’d like it would be that way. That’s why I wish more than never that things go well and that I can go very high in the ranking. Besides, I want to prove myself and everyone that in the Canary Islands the professional sportspeople can be very prepared, contrary what some people think. The difference between being here or in another place for a professional is a couple of hours more of flight, but that’s widely compensated with the fact of feeling the support of your people.
Q: What importance has a coach in the career of a tennis player?.
A: His presence is very important in and outside the court. In the difficult moments he can help you, because from the stands they can see things one can’t see when is fighting for the points. A good coach gives you confidence and makes you enjoy playing, something didn’t happen to me in Barcelona now. That’s why I think this change is going to be good for my mind and my game.
Q: When will the tennis talent you have finally explode?.
A: I would say that very soon. This year has also had some very good things. I’ve played two finals of good tournaments and I’ve won my first doubles title, but things didn’t go well at all in the Grand Slams. If things had gone well, I could be among the top 15 in the WTA ranking. I’m in the good way and next year can be very important for me.
Q: Has the women’s tennis changed much lately?.
A: It changes each year, each month. Now there’s much more aggressiveness and competitiveness. Before, it was very strange that a top 50 reached the final of an important tournament, something that happens with more frequency nowadays. The level is very high because the people are better prepared.
Q: Is there any player that impresses you?.
A: The physical power of the Williams sisters still impresses me, because they hit the ball really hard.
Q: Is it very difficult to break into the top 20?.
A: It’s very tough. I’ve been about to get it twice, but the first year I relaxed a little and this season it hasn’t been possible.
Q: You could get it next year because you don’t have so many points to defend.
A: Without any doubt that’s a good chance, because I defend almost nothing in the Grand Slams, and also in another tournaments. Besides, I’ve acquired maturity and aplomb in the circuit, to say it in a way.
Q: Did it affect you that the Fed Cup captain didn’t count on you for the team?.
A: More than affecting me, it got me angry because it was something I didn’t expect after being in all the ties since I was 18. I told Mico I didn’t agree with his decision, but that he was the captain. Vivi and Gala were there in spite of being lower than Montolio and me in the ranking. Besides, if you look at the statistics, you’ll see that I’m the only one of them that has beaten a top 10 this year.
