Magüi had a great performance at the Estoril Open 2003, getting her second WTA singles title.

   Magüi's words after defeating the Hungarian Petra Mandula to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.

   Meanwhile, in the women’s tournament, the defending champion and second seed of this year, Magüi Serna, advances towards the ‘renewal’ of the Vista Alegre trophy. Against Petra Mandula (76 WTA ranking), the tennis player from Las Palmas showed a high level getting the result of 7-5 and 6-0 in one hour and five minutes.

   Although the score indicates that the match could have been easy, Serna explained: “this has been a weird day, different from yesterday. With the rain the court was harder and also the balls, so the first set was much more difficult”.

   In the quarterfinals, María Luisa (42 WTA ranking) will face the French Stephanie Cohen Aloro, who defeated today the ‘sex-symbol’ and Feliciano López’s girlfriend, María Sánchez Lorenzo, by 6-4, 2-6 and 6-2, in an hour and 55 minutes. “It’s going to be a very difficult match, because I lost to her two months ago in Paris indoors and I know how she plays”, said the Spanish player.

   Magüi's words after defeating the French Cohen Aloro to reach the semifinals of the tournament.

   Defending champion Magüi Serna moved through to the semifinals of the Estoril Open with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France. The Spanish No. 2 seed now meets third seed Virginie Razzano, who brought the amazing run of lucky loser Gisela Dulko to an end with a 7-6(4), 6-4 win.

   After reaching the semifinals, Serna said: "I knew it was going to be a very tough match. I played Stephanie two months ago in Paris (indoor) and I lost in three sets. I knew her type of game so I knew it was going to be very tough."

   Before this tournament, Serna favored the hard courts but now says that might change. "My best results happened in clay so I think I have to change my mentality," she laughed. "Tomorrow's semifinal will be the hardest match of the week so far. Physically I feel different this year than when I won last year because this year it is my first tournament on clay."

(Translation from  http://infordesporto.sapo.pt/

  “I feel good. Tomorrow it’s going to be a more difficult match. I think this semifinal is going to be harder than last year’s one. I have never played her on clay, but for what I have seen, she is a tough rival. She is aggressive and plays a lot on the court. Honestly, I think that the one that wins this semifinal is going to win the tournament, but in tennis you never know.”

   Magüi's words after defeating the French Razzano to reach the final of the tournament.

   Defending champion Magüi Serna will meet German qualifier Julia Schruff in the final of the Estoril Open after both won their semifinal matches in straight sets. After the rain subsided at the Estadio Nacional, Serna wasted no time breezing through to her fifth WTA Tour final with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over third seed Virginie Razzano of France in 46 minutes.

   In the windy and cool conditions on court Central, Serna adapted her game with much more success to book her spot in her second successive final in Estoril.

   "I was expecting a much tougher game today," said Serna. "Virginie didn't play very well so that made it easy for me. But now, every final is the most difficult match. Tomorrow I will be the favorite, but if I'm playing well, I feel I can win."

(Translation from http://infordesporto.sapo.pt/ )

“I didn't expect it to be that easy”

   “I expected a much tougher match. I’m surprised with the fact that it has been so fast. I didn’t expect it to be that easy. It seems my rival wasn’t able to enter in the match. It’s also true that today I played my best tennis, although I didn’t have much time to show it. It’s clear that I’m not frustrated. I’m in the final and that’s what matters. I don’t know what there is here in Portugal, but it’s clear that there’s something that brings me good luck.“

   Magüi's words after defeating in the final the German Schruff to get her second WTA singles title in Estoril.

   In the press conference, the champion was very happy with her win, and said she was very satisfied with her game during the whole week. "The weather conditions weren't good, but I felt very sure after seeing that the German was very tired", said the Spaniard. Serna said she didn't feel the need to risk too much: "I realised that the German wasn't feeling to good physically, that's why I preferred to go on with my rythm". The Canarian explained that she felt comfortably during the whole tournament, after playing matches that she won easier than expected. About her future plans, she said that, in a short term, it's the tournament in Budapest (Hungary), that with other competitions "could help -if I get good results- to be a seed in Roland Garros".

(http://www.atptennis.com/estoril/news/03wfinal.asp)

   "I'm very happy," said Serna. "The matches were harder as the week went on, and today the wind and conditions made it very difficult, but I'm very happy to have defended my title." Serna, ranked 196 places higher than her opponent, was the overwhelming favorite coming into the final, but the 24-year-old did not put herself under any extra pressure. "I didn't know much about her," said Serna."I knew she was a qualifier and she must have been playing very well to reach the final. I just tried to stay calm in the conditions and play my game today."

   About the final, the tennis player from Las Palmas knew "that she came from the qualifying, tired after having played many matches, but I had to stay calm and benefit from my experience in this kind of matches". I dedicate this win to my family and to my coach".