PORTO 2001

    Magüi had a great performance in Porto 2001, where she reached a final for the first time in her career, losing to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, first-seeded.

(Translation from www.infordesporto.pt)

    There was not much spectacle the match between the two Spanish players, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Magüi Serna, who faced in the final of the first edition of the Porto tournament. Arantxa, 14 in the ranking, defeated her doubles partner by 6-3 and 6-1.

    Arantxa was a fair winner seeing the game both played. Due to her experience, she was better in the two sets. Magüi Serna could never get rid of the nerves of being in her first final.

    We could see an equilibrate Arantxa on the court in Porto. She hadn’t won a title for over a year (with her wedding in between), and showed a good level.

    This Sunday the Spaniard, 13 in the WTA ranking, showed she was as fit as she used to. She gave no chances to a very nervous Magüi Serna. That’s why Arantxa won easily by 6-3, 6-1 in fifty minutes.

    The former number one of the world was always better than her rival. With a good baseline game, Sánchez Vicario made Serna move a lot, what got on her rival’s nerves as the match advanced.

    Arantxa made less errors and was always leading, main reason for her success in this tournament. Arantxa is getting ready for Roland Garros, tournament that she has already won.

    Magüi Serna was far from the level she’s showed during the tournament. She paid a lot the fact of playing her first final, against a great friend of her. All of this affected her. She got nervous because of the safe baseline game of Arantxa, because of her own errors and because of some decisions of the chair umpire.

    In the second set things began well for Serna, although Arantxa was sure in spite of giving a break at the beginning of the second set. Everyone expected Serna’s reaction, but they were wrong.

    In the second game with her serve, Magüi Serna couldn’t show a consistent tennis and lost it finally to Arantxa, who was unstoppable from that moment, she didn’t lose more games and won the match by a clear 6-1.