ESTORIL 2002

  (Translation from Diario La Provincia Digital (17/04/2002))

“Becoming the rely of Arantxa with 12 years has put much pressure on me”

   Still with the taste in her lips of her first WTA singles title, the tennis player Magüi Serna goes again to the gymnasium to work hard few hours before returning again to the court to be coached by Fernando García Lleó and her physical coach, Joaquín Sanchís. The hard daily trainings among the few free time that the asphyxiating competition schedule leaves, go on, but however, in the Canarian's mind there has been an inflection point after becoming the champion of the Estoril Open. At last she has broken the barrier between the doubt and the confidence, her professional self-esteem is high and now she feels she can face the pressure that the difficult situations generate.

   Magüi Serna has just won her first WTA title after becoming the champion of the Estoril Open. A week ago she also reached the Porto's final, but she couldn't get the title, in the same way she couldn't last year against Arantxa and Lindsay Davenport, in Eastbourne.

   With her win on the Portuguese clay she ends with a title's drought, in contrast with a great record in which there are great wins against some top ten, and also being the decisive part in some Fed Cup ties with Spain. Last November she came back to Gran Canaria after having trained one year in Switzerland with the Dutch Eric Van Harpen and having trained eight years in Barcelona with different coaches.

   Magüi considers that her return to her land has been fundamental to get the win in Portugal. The Canarian also highlights the knowledge and professionalism of her coach and physical coach, and she also wants to thank the Cortijo Club de Campo and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where she trains technically and physically.

Question: What interpretation can you conclude of your win in Estoril?.

Answer: Very positive in the mental and sports aspect, because it was a goal I had been looking for for a long time.

Q: Why had it taken you so long to get your first title?.

A: I don't know exactly. To win titles is the goal of all the professionals, but sometimes there are circumstances that prevent you from succeeding after the good play of one or two weeks. I had already played three finals and the truth is that with Davenport and Arantxa I had few chances, but last week in Porto I could have defined against Montolio.

Q: After having beaten Steffi Graf, Novotna, Pierce, Huber and other top ten, have you ever felt 'captured' with the anguish of not winning?.

A: I recognize that I have had bad moments and moral ups and downs, but I have never doubted of my possibilities.

Q: Do you think it has been bad for you that with just twelve years it was said you would be top 5 in the world one day?.

A: Since I was very young I was told that I would be the rely of Arantxa and Conchita and that was putting pressure on me. I put pressure on myself because I felt forced to show that I would be the following one. Now I see that responsibility under another perspective and I don’t put pressure on me, I just see it as a compliment and try to give the best of myself on and outside the court.

Q: Do you understand that some people-among them countrypeople- don’t understand how difficult it is to make progresses in such a competitive sport?.

A: I’m sure that the true supporters know the difficulties that the competitive tennis has, but I also understand that other people see only the nice part and the good results. The truth is that to practise this sport at a high level requires a lot of work, many hours of training, of planes, of hotels, and spending long periods of time far from your family. It’s a hard life, it deprives you of important personal aspects, although it’s fair to recognize that it gives you some very gratifying compensations sometimes.

Q: How do you feel physically?.

A: I feel great-she smiles-. Here is the captain, who is always making me work hard-she refers to her physical coach, who is with her during the interview. No, seriously, I’m great, I have lost some weight and it isn’t being so hard, thanks to the help of Joaquín and Fernando. And I’m going to lose more weight, I’m not gonna stop here.

Q: When I was young, I had a physical coach that told me that the kilos go into through the mouth.

A: (Laugh as answer)

Q: Anyway, your great performance in Porto and Estoril could be the prelude of the good results in your next tournaments in Hamburg, Berlin, Rome, Madrid and Paris?.

A: I hope so, because beginning the clay season being finalist and champion gives me confidence and moral. You know that clay isn’t my favourite surface because I prefer fast courts, but this year I expect to adapt better, because I don’t dislike clay.

Q: I suppose that when you play your next final, it won’t be a torture for you.

A: No. Next time I don’t think I’ll eat the ball the night before the match. I’ll take it easy.

Q: Finally, do you think that returning to your land has contributed to relaunch your sports career?.

A: Sure it has. The results in Porto and Estoril are directly related to my stay here because it has given me more calmness in a personal level. I feel much better, as I have already said, thanks to counting on two professionals like Fernando and Joaquín. It’s true that all the changes always cost a little and having to adapt to a new coach takes time, but this time it’s worth because we understand better each day. Besides, Fernando gives me freedom on court, and I can be much more creative and can enjoy myself while I’m playing.