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14 Jun 2025 | 22.30
Argentine women's tennis will once again have a presence in the top 100 starting next week. The achievement is credited to Solana Sierra (Mar del Plata, 2004), who has managed to achieve the goal of every tennis player thanks to the quarterfinals she reached at the 2025 BBVA Open Internacional de Valencia. A tournament that allowed me to meet her just three seasons ago when Solana arrived with the runner-up title from the Roland Garros Junior. But what has happened in all this time?
Guided for several months by Miguel Fragoso and Daniel Gómez, coaches in charge of the project at the Rafa Nadal Academy, Sierra meets with Punto de Break at the Sporting Club facilities, where she quickly recalls the interview we had three years ago. Both of us have changed, but surely she has changed a little more. At the time of the talk, her entry into the top 100 was still unofficial, something that can already be celebrated as you read these lines. How challenging was it to achieve this goal? Nobody better than her to explain it.
What does it feel like to be the top seed in the draw?
If only it were like this every week, right?
Certainly, though I don't think too much about the ranking or the numbers; I just focus on training and continuing to improve my game, that's the most important thing.
Don't you think about the top 100? Not even this week?
(Laughs) The top 100 is like the big goal for all tennis players; it's a dream I have, I want to achieve it, and I know it can happen this week. Let's hope so.
Right now, you are the best Argentine in the world.
Yes (laughs).
Is it something to laugh at or to go crazy about?
Yes, it's true, it's a bit crazy. Maybe I haven't quite assimilated it yet, and I don't have time to stop and think about it. I've been achieving good things, and I believe I deserve it for all the work I've been doing.
Do you feel the responsibility?
It's a responsibility, I feel it, but at the same time, it's motivation to know that I'm the best Argentine. I try to present a good image for those who are watching me, so I try to turn it into motivation.
Let's go back to 2022, when we met at this same tournament. Have things changed much in these three years?
Many things have happened, for sure. At 18, I was in a different stage; I have matured a lot, improved my game significantly, and feel I have more variety on the court. Each season, I keep improving, and I believe this evolution is noticeable.
You had a great junior career, did it weigh in any way?
Fortunately, my junior career was very good; I reached #7 in the world and made it to the final at Roland Garros. Surely some people expected me to progress a bit faster; I've heard it before, but I try not to dwell on those things. As I say, I focus on the process I've been going through, which has been positive.
Where do you feel that evolution?
In my case, it's purely mental. I always knew I had the level; my game is very aggressive, my shots are good. But now I feel I can compete against the best in the world. On the other hand, at that stage, my mental capacity was not yet at the same level as my tennis skills. Over the last few years, I have improved it greatly, getting closer every day to that balance between the mental and the tennis aspects.
Do you notice this in the matches?
I notice it a lot; I could give you examples of several matches. Three years ago, I was very young, maybe I didn't have the mentality I have now to face some matches. Confidence is also very important; self-confidence, before, I had a hard time believing that I could achieve certain things.
How is confidence built?
It's difficult; at times, this issue has been very challenging for me. I have high expectations for myself; I am very competitive and want to go far. Sometimes, if the results don't come, you start to feel down, but it's normal. I always try to remember that this is a long process, I have many years ahead, and what matters is that I have been doing good work.
Do you enjoy the process?
Now I enjoy it a lot, I love playing tennis, competing, and I really enjoy traveling. Obviously, at times, it's tough to be away for so many weeks, far from your family; perhaps, this is what I find most challenging personally.
Tennis is a very demanding sport; there is no room for carelessness.
In matches, it's hard to stay focused for two or three hours; there will always be moments of disconnection. The key here is to quickly get back on track. Outside the court, it's the same; you have to be very professional with everything, from meals to physical work, training... everything counts. At some point, we also need to disconnect; that is crucial.
Do you have to be a slave to tennis to be successful? Alcaraz, for example, opts for a different method.
I am a bit more on Alcaraz's side (laughs). The daily work is very important, as we all know, but for me, that disconnection I mentioned earlier is fundamental. Taking one or two days off now and then, going to the beach, or spending time with friends is essential to return with more enthusiasm for training. If you are well off the court, it is impossible to be bad on it. You have to find things outside tennis that make you happy; this later reflects when you compete.
They say you have to love it a lot to reach the top, how much do you want this?
I am willing to give my all.
'All' is a lot.
Yes, but that's why I get up every day and train for six hours, even though many times I end up exhausted. It's the dream I have, I love it, I've wanted it since I was a child.
What is the dream?
My real dream is to win a Grand Slam, the US Open, my favorite tournament.
Now you are training at the Rafa Nadal Academy; they can help you.
I am in a new phase, yes. So far, everything is going great; it's an incredible place, they have absolutely everything, and they are very good people. They are excellent people, an ideal place to work.
Did you get a chance to talk to Nadal?
Yes, I crossed paths with him a few times. Gustavo Marcaccio, who is Argentine like me, introduced us. It was a very crazy moment (laughs).
If he were here with us, what would you ask him?
[...] After all the years he spent winning Grand Slams, I would ask him how he managed to maintain that motivation. Maybe he already had 5-6 Grand Slams... but ended up winning more than 20!
Even Rafa had his moments; has it happened to you?
I have never experienced anything serious, of losing the desire, but I have had tough moments, like everyone. Times when you question if all the effort is really worth it, as not every week brings victory. Sometimes it gets tough; you compete many weeks a year, and you don't always see the results you want; that's when expectations turn against you.
Being Argentine, the journey starts harder than for others.
It's quite challenging to be from South America and pursue a career in tennis. The opportunities in Europe are completely different from what we have; although we have the potential. You can see the number of young players coming up, but there is still a lack of support, tournaments, and many things needed to match what they have in Europe.
Do you see that gap narrowing little by little?
Many things have improved in Argentina lately, especially concerning tournaments, but there is no comparison; we are still far behind the level of Europe or the United States. Support is also essential; I did the whole journey with the help of my parents; there is barely any sponsor support. Until 13-14 years old, it's very tough, you are on your own; then, if you're lucky, a sponsor may appear when you start to get into it, but in the previous stage, there is a lack of assistance.
Are you satisfied with Valencia?
Each week, I set different personal goals; of course, I would have loved to win the tournament, I always aim to win, but this time, I reached the quarterfinals. The important thing is that I leave with good feelings, and I hope to do a bit better next time.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, “Ser la mejor argentina del mundo es algo que todavía no he asimilado”
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