( Translation from http://www.editorialprensacanaria.es/ (07/03/2006))

MAGÜI SERNA. PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: ´I don't have to show anything, I just want to play well today in front of my crowd´

"After having gotten many important goals in my sports career, I think that today I don't have to show anything to anyone, I just want to play well and that the crowd enjoy my game", says Magüi Serna, a former number 19 in the WTA ranking, in a courageous gesture for deciding to come back to the competition at her own hometown, after almost a year of inactivity. The Canarian plays today at the ITF $25,000 Ciudad de Telde from 16 h at El Cortijo.

Of course Magüi doesn't have to show anything to anybody after having had important wins in her career, such as the ones against Steffi Graff, Jana Novotna, Mary Pierce, at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and many more, such as the ones against Justine Henin, Serena Williams, Chanda Rubin, Patty Schnyder and Anke Huber, among others.

She took part in the Olympic Games in Sydney and Atenas, she reached the quarterfinals in Wimbledon, where she was also junior runner-up against Mauresmo. In 1998 she substitued Arantxa in the Fed Cup with a win against Germany after winning her two singles and the doubles match, together with Conchita, who had lost her two singles matches.

Question: How do you take your comeback to the competition?

Answer: I am looking forward to it. I haven't played since April last year and the trainings wear you out a little bit if you don't compete. On the other hand, I am aware that my hopes aren't the same as when I stopped playing one year ago, because tennis has changed a lot.

Q.: Do you feel completely recovered from your shoulder injury?

A.: The truth is that I feel very well, after doing much rehabilitation to protect my shoulder. One year ago they only gave me two choices: to operate or to stop.

Q.: Why didn't you ask for the protected ranking to the WTA?

A.: Because I was past the deadline. See how worried I was about the problem of my injury.

Q.: Will you be pressed today on the court?

A.: A little bit, but it's something I don't want to give much importance to. If I think about it, I think I will get very nervous because it's a long time since I have played, and I have come back precisely here, where people are looking forward to seeing me. On the other hand, I think I've got many important goals and I don't have anything to show to anyone by now. So, I want to go there and play a good tennis so that people enjoy my game.

Q.:  Sure that the fans will appreciate your courage.

A.: It's true that I could have come back at any other place, but I have preferred to do it at home because I know that many people know my name but have never seen me play.

Q.:  How do you reconsider your sports future?

A.:  If things go well, I'll try to be close to the top 100 in the short term. I think that I still have enough of a game to be there again.

Q.: Are you psychologically prepared to face some important trips in your come back?.

A.: I feel physical and mentally good now, but it's also true that I don't know how I will react if the first two or three tournaments if I go badly. I don't have the age and the excitement of when you start, when you see it so pretty. Now things are posed the other way. For me it's a challenge I want to beat.