The main teams of the US Open were too quickly without Argentine representatives. But there is a light blue and white racket that is shining this week on the concrete courts of New York. Solana Sierra, the greatest promise of women’s tennis in our country, on Wednesday they qualified for the quarterfinals of the junior tournament by beating the British 3-6, 6-4 and 7-6 (7-4) Matilda Mutavdzic.
The 17-year-old from Mar del Plata, 29th in the world rankings in her category, needed two hours and 43 minutes to overtake the British, 18th, and for the first time in her career to enter the top eight in a Grand Slam. In addition, he secured a place in the top 20 of the rankings at the end of the tournament.
Sierra, the only Argentine representative in the junior teams of the “great” American, had played this year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but had not been able to win any games. On Flushing Meadows, he was finally able to get his first win at this level of tournaments.
It was in the debut, against the American Sarah Hammer at debut. But he was not satisfied and went for more. In the second round, she beat the Spanish Ane Mintegi del Olmo, champion this year in London, and then to Mutavdzic to reach the fourth wheel. His next rival will be the American Elina Kalieva, 16th in the world ranking, with which it will cross this Thursday from 13.
That winning streak is no accident. Because hard courts are his favorites and the ones that best suit his tennis. “I am a fairly aggressive player, who always tries to make the point and go up to the net to win it. My best shot is the backhand,” she said in a talk with Clarín at the beginning of last year.
Sierra, who is trained by Bettina FulcoHe tried various sports – swimming, horse riding and dance – before deciding on tennis, which he came to almost by chance. During a family vacation, her dad rented a field to rally for a while and, seeing that Solana was very well coordinated, he took her to take some classes. And she was immediately excited.
“At first I took it as a game. But later it became more serious. I like to train, I like to travel and meet people, places. That is the most beautiful thing about tennis, which allows you to see the world,” he said.
Her talent made her stand out from a very young age, but 2019 was the year that confirmed her as a player with the greatest projection in our country. That season, he won two grade 5 (J5) tournament titles, one in Lambare (Paraguay) in late July and another in Córdoba a week later. In addition, she began to play the ITF (Women’s ITF) professional circuit and reached the semifinals at the W15 in Buenos Aires. And he had the pleasure of participating in the clinic and playing a set with Guillermina Naya in the preview of the exhibition match of Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev in Buenos Aires, an experience you will not forget.
Sierra is the greatest promise of women’s tennis in our country. Photo Andrew Ong-USTA
“It was tremendous. When they told me I was going to play it, I couldn’t believe it. I had a great time, I was very nervous because I had never played in such a big stadium with so many people. And meeting Roger, Zverev and Delpo, it was an incredible experience, “he recalled.
Last year, complicated by the pandemic, won his third title Juner, at JB1 in Brasilia. And in this 2021, he played the final in the J1 of Lambare and semis in the J1 of Porto Alegre and, at the end of May, he reached the semifinal for the first time in a competition of the ITF women’s circuit, in the W15 of Santa Margarita of Montbui.
Federer fanatic and with Serena Williams as a reference, Sierra continues to grow as a player and aims high. “My long-term dream is to win the US Open,” he said.
Maybe this year I will have the fun of making it come true as a junior.
.
