AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2002

    Magüi’s words after defeating the Australian Amanda Grahame in the first round at the Australian Open.

(Translation from Diario La Provincia Digital (16/01/2002)))

   Chronologically was Magüi Serna the first one to win. She defeated the Australian Amanda Grahame by 6-3 and 6-3. Serna, seed number 23, said "all the first matches are difficult, especially at the beginning of the year, when we have been almost two months without competing, but I’m happy. Today everything has worked almost well in general. It’s always difficult to play a lefty, especially because I’m also lefty, but I’ve been solid in all the aspects. My top-spin backhand has worked well and I’ve been constant, more than nothing".

   "The draw is very well in my side, quite accessible, but I prefer thinking match by match and not saying anything, each win is a happiness".

   "My goals this season are quite similar to my last year’s goals. I was about to get them, but I did so bad in the Grand Slams, and that killed me I’m trying to be top 15 and winning a singles tournament".

    Magüi's words after defeating the Italian Mª Elena Camerin in the second round at the Australian Open.

(Translation from http://www.en-canarias.com/deportes/ (17/01/2002))

   “I’m happy because the last time I did it (reaching the third round) was the first time I played here, and that was many years ago. The two matches have been really accessible, although it takes a little to compete again, because at the beginning of the year all the matches are tough, because all of us have been ‘stopped’ for a long time”.

   (Against Dementieva) “It’s going to be a completely different match to the ones I’ve had so far. It’s going to be very hard, but let’s see if there are chances. She has a very strong forehand, I’ve played her several times and the matches have been very close, and the truth is that she hits the ball very hard. But I know she doesn’t like playing lefties much, so let’s try she doesn’t feel comfortable on the court”.

   “It’s a match to play because nobody is at 100% at the beginning of the year, so I have to take my advantages”.

    Magüi's words after losing to the Russian Elena Dementieva in the third round of the Australian Open.

(Translation from Diario La Provincia Digital (20/01/2002)))

   The Canarian tennis player recognised yesterday that the Russian Elena Dementieva, her ‘executioner’ in the third round of the Australian Open, was unstoppable.

   "I think the problem has been that I have served very badly and with these people, if you don’t serve well, you’re lost. Besides, she has been leading from the beginning and that way she was unstoppable", she said.

   "It wasn’t my day and nothing worked and, when I can’t dominate with my serve, I ‘live in her shadow’ and everything was too fast", she said.

   "I was angry because I couldn’t control the match, you can’t always, but at least you have to control it mentally, and it hasn’t been possible", said Magüi.

   "The plan was to win the first set or be very close, but, with people like her, she leads and hits so hard, to play the match I wanted to was more difficult", she finished.