"I want to enjoy this experience; I don't know if someday I will be here again"

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Of the six Spanish players we will see next week in the preliminary phase of Wimbledon, there is one who will debut doubly. Ángela Fita, after a path full of obstacles, finally reached the top floor.

And even though my job requires me to be objective with each interviewee, there are cases where it is a bit harder. Knowing her and knowing her story, I admit that I write this text with a smile from ear to ear. Ángela Fita (Valencia, 1999) has spent her whole life fighting to get here, to a Grand Slam, to a preliminary phase that hopefully will be the first of many. After a season that pushed her to break the top 200 barrier, now the Valencian will live that dream experience in the preliminary phase of Wimbledon 2026. Of course, Punto de Break spoke with her before facing her first Grand Slam tournament.

What is it like to play on grass?

It's cool! They say you either like grass or you don't, there's no middle ground. So far, I like it, but you could call me in two days and I might say the opposite (laughs).

Is it really that different?

The bounce is different, it hardly gains height and the ball slips a bit. Balls that stay in the middle of the court don't bounce, when you hit long it kicks a lot, the good thing is that I come from training on the quick courts we have at Club de Tenis Las Vegas (L’Eliana), so nothing can surprise me now.

What about the movement?

I think that's the most challenging part, when they play you wide and you have to push off and come back, you'll need a lot more strength to move. You slip from time to time, your support foot moves a bit, so I'm counting on taking some falls if the courts are a bit wet (laughs).

How did you prepare for the tournament?

Well, between the Quick court in Las Vegas and then a sports center in Valencia that has artificial grass, although it's nothing like it. The only similarity to the grass we have here is the color; they're both green.

I don't need to tell you, but you'll be playing your first Grand Slam. After so many years of hard work, here is the reward. Do you reflect on it a lot or is it better to normalize it?

I got goosebumps […] I mean, I try to treat it as normal, I've known for many weeks that I was going to be here, but I also want to be very grateful for everything. Many times, when we get into these dynamics, you can end up normalizing it, but it's very difficult to get here. There are players who talk about "going to Roland Garros" or "going to Wimbledon" as if it were normal... but it's not. I want to be very aware of where I am and I want to enjoy it, I've been wanting to take this step for a long time and finally I did.

Did you ever see yourself far from this?

Far from the level… I would say that I never doubted that I could be here one day. Regarding injuries, there were many moments of doubt, not knowing if I could have the continuity that a professional tennis player needs to reach these tournaments. In the end, you have to play many weeks, be consistent, be without pain... but there were stages where I suffered a lot with injuries. I competed in pain for many months, to the point of feeling disadvantaged compared to others. If you give your 100% and it's not enough, then it's not, it's not enough. My issue was that I had never been able to have consistency at 100% without injuries, but I always had hope of finding a way. Now I have had this consistency since last year, happy to be here and to have found the path to being healthy.

What have you changed?

We've changed many things during this time, there were periods where we improved, but something always came up. We were looking for solutions and making changes until last year when I suffered a lot of knee pain for four months. We managed to unlock that issue and since then, I haven't had any setbacks that would prevent me from competing at 100%. Physically, I've had very good months.

In April, you won your biggest title in Bonita Springs (Florida), a W100. Was it a turning point?

It was a step forward, just like being here at my first Grand Slam. They are important steps, but it continues. Perhaps it was the point that confirmed the good work of the previous months. In tennis, you can do things right and not see the results, many times you have to endure and be consistent even if you don't see the results growing. That title was a reward for the work we did in the previous months, a reward for all that effort.

This first Grand Slam comes to you at 26 years old, an age that should also be normalized. David Jordà, for example, will play his first Grand Slam at 32 years old.

Each player has their own path, you can't compare yourself to others under any circumstances. Eventually, it comes when it has to, when you're ready, or it can come when you least expect it. "Yes, but at 18 that other player was already playing Grand Slams." Okay, but maybe at 18 that other player wasn't at the point where I was at that age. Comparing is nonsense; humans always tend to compete in those things, but you know what you've lived through and what you've been through. That it comes to me at 26? I'm not worried, as thankful as if it had come at 18.

How do you look to the future? Can you imagine that the best is yet to come?

Of course, right now I'm in one of my best moments. I will extend my career until I still feel this way; the day I no longer have this excitement, then I'll quit. Right now, I feel very good physically and mentally.

And in tennis? Because if you're in the top 200 it's because you're a better player now, do you notice that?

Absolutely, especially in recent months. I think we've made a jump in some aspects that may seem small, but then when competing they are noticeable. Ultimately, when you make that leap, it has to show somewhere. I notice it a lot, both in competition and training.

Let's talk about this Wimbledon preliminary phase, what are your expectations?

The most important thing is to be present at the tournament and enjoy it. I know many people regret experiencing these situations with a lot of stress, worry, having a hard time without enjoying it [...] I don't know if I'll ever be here again, so I want to seize this experience and enjoy it. Then, of course, I'll go compete as hard as it gets, even if it's on grass. If I'm here, it's because I have the same chances as the one in front.

If I fast forward to Tuesday, the moment you step onto the court and debut in a Grand Slam, thinking that you finally reached the elite... who will you remember?

Wow! […] There are so many people behind me; it would be unfair to start naming individuals because I would leave out others who are equally important. I will remember all the people I have behind me, my team, my family, my environment, all the people in my daily life. Especially on not-so-beautiful days like the one I'll live on this Tuesday.

Just being here is already a victory.

Regardless of the outcome, being here is a prize, a gift. As I said, all I want is to enjoy it, because these things are very beautiful and they go by very quickly.

Will we see you serve and volley?

Yes, for sure. I promised Pancho (laughs) that I would do it.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, “Quiero disfrutar de esta experiencia, no sé si algún día volveré a estar aquí”