(Translation from Diario La Provincia Digital (14/11/2001))

Serna comes back to the Canary Islands to train with García Lleó

    The Canarian tennis player Magüi Serna changes her residence from Barcelona to Gran Canaria to train with Fernando García Lleó at the Cortijo Club de Campo. With the decision of setting her ‘headquarters sing’ in her own land, the current world number 26 finishes an exodus that began in Switzerland when she was only 11 years old.

   During that period Magüi Serna has developed a brilliant professional career that has led her to be top 30 in the WTA rankings, after being in the Spanish Fed Cup team during four consecutive years, with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez.

   In the same way, Serna Barrera has got spectacular wins against world tennis divas, such as Steffi Graf, Jana Novotna, Mary Pierce or Anke Huber. Besides, she takes part in the most important international tournaments, so she plays against players such as Martina Hingis, the Williams sisters and all the top 10 players.

An important challenge

      “For me it is a very important professional challenge to work with a player with the possibilities of Magüi Serna”, said yesterday García Lleó. The new coach of the Canarian says that “the number 26 in the ranking is much more important than many people think and it supposes a luxury for the Canarian tennis. However, I think she has chances of having a better ranking”.

   García Lleó and Magüi will work together the rest of the year to be ready for the Australian Open. From then, he will go with her all over the world without leaving his work at the Cortijo Club de Campo.

   Her physical coach will be the Doctor Joaquín Sanchís.

   The Canarian said that “after being so many years away I’ve decided to come back home to be close to my family”

   “I’m sure that Fernando will provide all his knowledge acquired in the professional circuit to my career, and this is a new stage that I face with great hope for the future”