THE RELAY

(Translation from www.jumpy.es)

    This article appeared after the great performance of Magüi in Wimbledon 2000, where she reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

The natural relay of tennis

Magüi Serna has begun her climb to the Mount Olympus of tennis with her great performance on the grass of Wimbledon,which, besides, has made her be the successor of Conchita and Arantxa.

    The dream of every sportsperson is to be successful. Once they get the challenges they longed for at the beginnig of their career, they long to be on the Mount Olympus as long as possible. When the end of their career  is close, they look back and look for a new referent who guarantees the continuity of their legate. Conchita Martínez and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, after having passed the two first stages, need a renewed sap that assures a series of Spanish representatives in the elite of tennis. Magüi Serna seems to be ready to lead this generational relay. The honour of being the third Spaniard who reaches the quarterfinals in Wimbledon in the Open Era guarantees that.

    “It’s the moment for Magüi to take the relay”, said Arantxa Sánchez after knowing that the Canarian player had reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. She’s right. Because Serna has all the qualities needed for the new world of tennis. A style closer to the one showed in the men’s circuit, more attractive for the crowd.

    It seems that the era of the fight from the baseline, the few number of winners and the search of the rival’s error is over definitely. The new generation of tennis players-leaded by the Williams’ sisters, Lindsay Davenport and Jelena Dokic- bet on a fast  rhythm of game with very powerful shots. They don’t wait till the rival returns an easy ball.

    Magüi Serna belongs to this new generation that has many chances of winning in the international competitions. The 21-year-old player has a very good serve, she hits the ball very hard with her drive and she has inherited the constancy and fight usual in the Spaniards. Wimbledon 2000 has been her springboard. The grass at the All England Tennis Club has made her be in the first line of the national tennis. Like Marta Marrero, who surprised in Roland Garros reaching the quarterfinals, she expects to be a worthy alternative for the two best Spanish players in the history.

    But, the player who resides in Barcelona, has a long way to go if she wants to fill the gap that Arantxa and Conchita will leave when they retire. In fact, apart from her heroic feat in Wimbledon, her most important result was reaching the semifinals of Birmingham last year.

“Of an inferior level”

    Jelena Dokic, who defeated her in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon”, underestimated the good level she showed in her previous matches, which let her defeat Mary Pierce, champion of Roland Garros. “I must win because I’m going to play against a player of an inferior level”, said the Australian player before her match against Serna.

    Circumstances that didn’t discourage the Canarian, although she recognised after her defeat that she isn’t used to being among the best eight for the moment. Maybe that’s because she’s very young or because she’s very shy, but nobody doubts that with time, the elite of tennis will be her natural place. She has the needed references to get it.

    Admirer of Pete Sampras and fan of Tom Cruise, Serna dreams of reaching the glory, like in the film of the American actor ‘Jerry Maguire’, from the bottom and on the grass of Wimbledon.