09/09/2021 9:53 AM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 09/09/2021 9:53 AM
The main teams of the US Open ran out 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,
qualified for the quarterfinals of the junior tournament this Wednesday by beating the British
Matilda Mutavdzic
3-6, 6-4 and 7-6 (7-4)
.
The 17-year-old from Mar del Plata, just turned 17 and 29th in the world rankings in her category, needed two hours and 43 minutes to overtake the British, 18th, and get for the first time in her career among the eight best 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.
At
Flushing Meadows
, he was finally able to get his first win at this tournament level.
It was in the debut, against the American
Sarah Hammer
in the debut.
But he was not satisfied and went for more.
In the second round, she beat Spain's
Ane Mintegi del Olmo
, champion this year in London, and then Mutavdzic to reach the fourth wheel.
Her next rival will be the American
Elina Kalieva
, 16th in the world ranking, with whom she will meet this Thursday from 13.
@Sierra_solana advances in the #USOpen! 👏🏻🇦🇷
In the round of 16 she beat Matilda Mutavdzic🇬🇧 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) and got into the top eight of the tournament.
He will face Elvina Kalieva🇺🇸 (16th seed) in search of the semi-finals.
📸 Brad Penner / USTA # VamosArgentina💪🏻🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/xeJAskLLIf
- Argentina Tennis (@AATenis) September 8, 2021
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 early last year in a conversation with Clarín.
Sierra, who is trained by
Bettina Fulco
, tried various sports - swimming, horse riding and dance - before settling on tennis, which she came to almost by chance.
During a family vacation, her dad rented a field to rally for a while and, seeing that Solana had very good coordination, he took her to take some classes.
And she was immediately excited.
"At first I took it as a game. But later it became something 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 Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev exhibition match in Buenos Aires
, an experience that he 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, he
won his third June title
, at JB1 in Brasilia.
And in this 2021, he played the final in the J1 in Lambare and semis in the J1 in Porto Alegre and, at the end of May, he reached the semifinal for the first time in an ITF women's circuit competition, in the W15 in Santa Margarita of Montbui.
A fan of Federer 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 happen as a junior.
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