ESTORIL 2002

    Magüi had a great performance at the Estoril Open 2002, getting her first WTA singles title.

    Magüi's words after reaching the quarterfinals.

(Translation from  http://infordesporto.sapo.pt/estorilopen2002/decla_10abr_magi.asp)

    "I’m very happy. This is the easiest match I’ve had so far. Yesterday I felt much more tired than today, the wins give you moral and confidence. I like playing in Portugal and I’m always lucky in this country".

    (Ángeles Montolio, a desired rival) "I wouldn’t mind playing against her. I’ve known her for some years and I would like to defeat her this year".

    (Runner-up in the Porto Open, Serna expects good results in Estoril) "I was runner-up in Porto and I would like to win the Estoril Open".

    Magüi's words after reaching the final.

    The Spaniard Magüi Serna, fourth-seeded, has qualified for the Estoril Open final after defeating today the Russian Elena Bovina by 6-3 and 6-3. Her rival will be the German Anca Barna.

    "I was very calm and I've played very well, concentrated but worried about the strong wind. I expected a tougher match, but I've played at my best level and I have run a lot".

    "After here I'll play in Hamburg, in two weeks. I'm going to try to think match after match, because it's going to be difficult with players of such a high level, but I've gained in confidence in this Estoril Open and this is going to give me moral".

    The Spaniard Magüi Serna will play her second final this year and the third in Portugal and she expects to win, "let's see if third time lucky".

    Serna, seed number 4, explained today that "tomorrow's match will be very difficult with the wind, but I'll give everything to win", because besides, Barna, whom she defeated last week in Porto and comes from the qualifying, "is a very tough rival, she fights every ball and she takes advantage of her rival mistakes".

    The Porto's runner-up in which she lost to Montolio, said "it would have been great to play again against Montolio, but tennis is this way. Patience!".

    For her German rival this is her first final and she said "it will be a hard match" due to the slice backhand and serve of Serna that "is very clever on court".

    The Russian Dinara Safina, who lost to Barna, because, as she explained, "the wind and my lost of concentration were my enemies" wished good luck to Serna. "I hope she wins, she is very nice, very open and besides she is Spanish", said the young Russian that trains in Valencia.

    Magüi's words after winning the final.

(Translation from Diario La Provincia (15/04/2002))

    "It has been a match with many nerves. Now I’m calmer and very happy for having won my first WTA title. This win is very important for me, I had played some finals and never got the title".

    "I expected a more difficult final, the tiredness might have influenced, because my rival had played many matches here, but I also came from two finals in Porto (singles and doubles) and hadn’t had time to rest".

    Serna said that this win "is an ‘oxygen pocket’, something I needed".

    The tennis player, fourth-seeded, said that although this wasn’t the most important match in her professional career, "it is in a personal level", and she added this win is an ‘oxygen pocket’. "It was something I needed, I have broken my barrier", she added.

    The Canarian player declared that this win is a good way of facing the rest of the season, because her goals at the beginning were to get a title- "I have already got that"- and improve in the ranking "Something I have to continue doing, and if more title come, I’ll go for them".

    The tournament’s winner, who on the court dedicated her win to her brother, who came from Madrid to see her, to her coach, Fernando García Lleó, to her coach’s wife, Mónica, and to the daughter of both of them, Berta, pointed out: "It’s specially for my parents, who have always supported me".

    "I don’t know how I am going to celebrate this, tonight I’ll arrive home, I want to be with my family, and later we’ll see".

    The Spaniard dedicated some words to her new coach, Fernando: "With him I enjoy myself again on the court".

    The brilliant champion explained that she doesn’t know if she’ll play again in Estoril next year, because it depends on the schedule. "What is clear is that I play well in Portugal", she said. Magüi Serna played in this country three of her four finals, and today she got her first win.