“In Mexico we can compete and win”

KAREN MORAN

PHOTO: OSWALDO FIGUEROA

The names of Yola Ramírez and Rosie ‘La Pajarita’ Reyes they are written in the history of national tennis. The first left a legacy translated into 35 titles, 29 of them in singles and six in doubles; together they won Roland Garros in 1958 and since then Mexico has not been on the women’s circuit, until Giulana Olmos appeared. ‘Gugu’, as he prefers to be called, turned professional in 2015, He was not born in our country, but he carries in his blood the tricolor DNA that was enough for him, at the age of 16, to make the decision to represent us.

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Among so many options available Olmos decided for being Mexican because she trusted to ‘put on the map’ the name of the country, she considers that she can compete and win. She knew that it would not be easy, but she was sure that it was important to show that there is also talent here capable of ‘rubbing shoulders’ with the best on the planet.

“I changed when was 16 years old And I think that the people of Mexico have a lot of passion for tennis and sports, we support each other a lot and the truth is that there were not many Mexican tennis players. I wanted to be that Mexican who could show that we are at the highest level and not only be there, show that we can also win. The truth is that every time I win it is something good for our country and I think that my teammates and all of us on the circuit know that we can win the biggest tournaments in the world”; she explained in an interview with ESTO after being crowned in Madrid.

With the title at the Caja Mágica, the second Masters 1000 of her career, Olmos reaffirmed herself as the best national exponent, however she doesn’t see it that way he prefers to work, improve and become an example. The titles are important, but she thinks of a project for the future, in the end, fighting for Mexico and developing white sport is the greatest legacy she can build.

“I think I am very good, I am not going to say that I am the best, but I feel that I am doing well. I am very happy where I am right now in my career and the truth is that every time I walk on the court I know that not only I am playing for myself, I am also representing my country and that I am going to do the best I can for myself, for my country and for all the women who come after me. I want my teammates to see every time I win that we can play at the highest level and we can win big tournaments; For me it is very special and I think that any of us can be the best in Mexico, ”she confessed.

Olmos shows day by day the potential that exists in Mexican tennis, she is convinced that it can be improved and developed new talentsbut she is also aware that the support is far from what is experienced in other countries, although she contributes with what she has, she wants a program to be developed in our country so that future generations do not emigrate in search of a future on the WTA tour.

“I feel that we lack a little more support In sports, tennis is a very expensive sport, you have to pay for coaches, trips, rackets, tournaments, the coach, which is very expensive, and I think that the Federation or the Government could provide more support. I also feel that we lack a National Center or something like that, it’s very difficult, we have many Mexican women who are living in the United States and training there, but I don’t know, I think it’s support that we lack, I don’t know if it’s going to touch me, but I hope that the next generations will be able to play something better”; Giuliana Olmos concluded.

THE BEST MEXICAN TENNIS PLAYERS IN HISTORY

NAME SINGLE TITLES DOUBLE TITLES BEST RANKING
Yola Ramírez 29 6 Montecarlo, Rome (2) and RG(3) 6 (Singles)
Rosie Reyes              —                       1 Roland Garros                                           —————
Raúl Ramírez 19 60 4(Singles) / 1 (Doubles)
Jorge Lozano — 9 51 (Singles)/ 4 (Doubles)
Leo Lavalle 1 5 51 (Singles)/ 23 (Doubles)
Santiago Gonzalez — 18,155 (Singles)/ 22 (Doubles)
Giuliana Olmos — 4,343 (Singles)/ 17 (Doubles)

THE MAGIC BOX OF MADRID IS MAGICAL: GIULIANA OLMOS

After almost a year without a title Olmos was crowned with Gabriela Dabrowski in Madrid, the experience for the Mexican was unique, although to raise a trophy again it is an indescribable emotion, doing it in the Spanish capital has a special meaning, ‘Gugu’ prepared himself to achieve it and the result is no less than he expected.

“I am very happy that I spent almost a year without winning a tournament, it is a very big tournament, a Masters 100 is not easy to win, I trained a lot and I feel like I prepared myself very well for this tournament, I took a month off, I played the Billie Jean Cup and then we trained here for a week, that helped us a lot and I am really happy that we won today”, he explained.

The big stages have never intimidated Olmos, but the Caja Mágica has something special, the Manolo Santana has a different mystique, from the beginning Giuliana hoped to reach him and when he did, even fans Mexicans had on his side.

“It was incredible, I was there all week watching matches, seeing Nadal and Alcaraz and I knew that I could only play in that stadium if we reached the final, when we arrived and trained there I said ‘woow que cool’Today when we entered it was very full, there were many people and I love playing with people, I feel that here in Spain I am playing at home. There were even some Mexicans in the stadium and that makes me very proud and happy, to see and feel the support of our people, it is incredible to know that I was playing in a historic stadium”; he highlighted her.

OLMOS DREAMS OF THE GRAND SLAM WITH DABROWSKI, BUT “WHAT HAPPENS HAPPEN”

Giuliana’s next destination is Rome, where she will defend her title from last year. The Mexican will take two days off to “go for a pizza and a gelato”, since the Italian capital is her favorite city in the world, then to concentrate. Past the Masters 1000 in the sights is Roland Garrosa trophy with which he obviously dreams, but he does not put pressure on himself, ‘Gugu’ goes step by step with Dabrowski, the Canadian with whom he will end the year, he assured.

“Tomorrow (Sunday) I am going to Rome, my favorite city in the world, arriving I am going to buy a pizza and a gelato and enjoy, We don’t play until Tuesday. We will play all year, we talked about it the year before and I feel that it has gone very well for us, we have played many games together, we already know how we play and we have a lot of trust in each other”, she explained.

“He has been dreaming of a Grand Slam for 29 years, it is something very difficult of course, but I feel that my level is there, I feel that I can. I really don’t like to focus on that much, every time I get to a tournament I just want to take advantage of the opportunity of the moment and my tennis, I think that if I continue like this it will happen, that’s life, what happens, happens”; she closed her.

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THE TITLES OF GIULIANA OLMOS

2019 | Torneo de Nottingham | Junto a Desirae Krawczyk
2020 | Mexican Tennis Open | Along with Desirae Krawczyk
2021 | Masters 1000 Rome | Along with Sharon Fichman
2022 | Masters 1000 Madrid | Along with Gabriela Dabrowski

THE FINALS OF GIULIANA OLMOS
2018 | Monterey Open | Along with Desirae Krawczyk
2019 | Mexican Tennis Open | Along with Desirae Krawczyk
2019 | Guangzhou Open | With Alexa Guarachi
2021 | Zapopan Open | Along with Desirae Krawczyk
2021 | US Open | Together with Marcelo Arévalo (Mixed Doubles)

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