Interview done in the radio programme 'El Larguero' of La Cadena Ser, in a section named 'Sports Women'. You can hear this interview (in Spanish) here.

Joseba: Belén, good night.

Belén: Good night Joseba.

Joseba: Our penultimate protagonist, who is she?.

Belén: We have a tennis star, Magüi Serna.

María Luisa Serna Barrera, known as Magüi, was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 1st March 1979. Behind her shy grin, we find a strong and fighter woman who has achieved great results.

She has a WTA doubles title, 3 WTA singles titles (two in Estoril and one in Budapest), 6 international Championships and she is also junior runner up in Wimbledon and junior semifinalist in Roland Garros.

In her spare time she goes to the cinema, as often as she can, her favourite film is Jerry Maguire. She admires Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts.

She likes listening to music, and if it's Madonna or Rosana better, and reading is also one of her hobbies. She is now reading “Hornet Flight ”.

Not only she loves tennis, but also soccer, basketball and golf. And she has told me that she is a big fan of Real Madrid, so she must be happy today.

And her favourite meal is fish .

Besides, she considers Pete Sampras one of the best tennis players. We saw yesterday how he retired.

Joseba: Magüi, from New York, good night.

Magüi: Hello, good night.

Joseba: How are you?.

Magüi: Fine, fine, resting a little bit.

Joseba: You are in the middle of a tournament, aren't you?.

Magüi: Yes, we are here starting the US Open, but well, looking forward to it.

Joseba: Well, and what chances do we have there?, it's difficult, isn't it?.

Magüi: It's difficult, the thing is that everyone is playing very well, but well, I'm looking forward to it and I hope to do as well as possible.

Joseba: You are Canarian, aren't you?.

Magüi: Canariona, canariona.

Joseba: Canariona, canariona. And you are fan of Real Madrid?.

Magüi: Yes, well, of the UD Las Palmas and later of Real Madrid.

Joseba: Of the UD, of the UD, good, you have to be of the UD, also, right? .

Magüi: Yes, yes, but also of Real Madrid.

Joseba: And as well as fish I imagine you'll like the 'papas', don't you?.

Magüi: Arrugaditas and with mojo (Canarian dish).

Joseba: Picón or not?.

Magüi: Picón.

Joseba: Magüi Serna, you went to Switzerland when you were very young, I think .

Magüi: Yes, with 13 years I went to Switzerland, I spent one year there, well, 9 months, and later I was 8 years in Barcelona.

Joseba: So, you are used to travelling around the world without stopping .

Magüi: Yes, in this sport we travel a lot, but it's worth and has its good moments.

Joseba: And I think that it was key that your family helped you in every moment.

Magüi: Very very important, the support of my family has always been very important and I'll always be thankful for that.

Joseba: Anyway, in spite of being a tennis pro, you don't forget your future, because you are studying Sports Management, I think.

Magüi: Yes, well, I'm studying the second course of Management and Administration of Sports Enterprises and well, it's something to have in the future.

Joseba: And with that you'll earn a lot of money, it sounds really good, doesn't it? .

Magüi: It sounds good, at the moment I'm focused on tennis, but it's to have something when I finish.

Joseba: If I ask you about your most admired sportsperson I think you'll tell us Sampras, right?.

Magüi: Sampras, and in the women's case Steffi Graf, yes.

Joseba: And did you see yesterday Sampras' farewell?.

Magüi: Yes, the truth is that it was really touching, I was touched .

Joseba: What a way of crying, right?. The truth is that it isn't usual seeing a sportsperson that way, and specially with all the compliments of his ex fellows.

Magüi: Yes, but going to court and see those people on the Centre Court stand up, clapping, without stopping clapping, you have goose pimples.

Joseba: So, you were also touched.

Magüi: Yes, I was really touched.

Joseba: Magüi, is there a lot male chauvinism in sport?.

Magüi: Male chauvinism in sport?. I think there's less each time. Maybe you could notice that more before, but now women's tennis is really strong and the thing is leveling.

Joseba: And you can earn your living with tennis, can't you?.

Magüi: Yes, but there's a big difference with men's tennis in this aspect, although the thing is leveling lately, there is still a big difference.

Joseba: Magüi, is Anna Kournikova harmful for your sport?.

Magüi: No, I have always thought the contrary, that's a positive thing because there are a lot of people in the world that have decided to watch tennis and to learn about tennis because she is in the circuit. So, I see it as a positive thing.

Joseba: So, it hasn't be bad to promote tennis.

Magüi: No, I see it as a positive thing in that aspect, there are a lot of people interested in tennis because she is there.

Joseba: What's your dream?. Your goal in your tennis career?.

Magüi: The dream of each sportsperson is being top 10 of the world, and in a personal level, I would love to win Wimbledon.

Joseba: Is this your favourite tournament?.

Magüi: Yes, since I was a little girl is the tournament I've always dreamt of.

Joseba: And if I ask you (in addition to Beckham) about an admired sportsperson ?.

Magüi: Roberto Carlos.

Joseba: Roberto Carlos?.

Magüi: I like Roberto Carlos a lot, in fact I met him. In general all the players of Real Madrid are cracks.

Joseba: But you don't haven't met Beckham yet.

Magüi: No, I haven't met him yet.

Joseba: And what would you tell Beckham?.

Magüi: I think I would be so nervous that I wouldn't know what to say.

Joseba: Belén, your question.

Belén: Of all your career, what's the most beautiful moment?.

Magüi: The most beautiful moment?. Now...In 98 I defeated Steffi Graf, and as I have already said, she was one of my idols, and I can't express with words the experience of defeating someone that was your idol. And another thing was playing the Olympics in Sydney.

Joseba: The most important moments in Magüi Serna's life. Magüi, what's your rival tomorrow?.

Magüi: Another Spaniard, Mª Antonia Sánchez.

Joseba: So, everything remains at home.

Magüi: Tomorrow there's a duel.

Joseba: Tomorrow there's a duel. Good luck for tomorrow and many thanks for being in ‘El Larguero’ tonight.

Magüi: Thanks.