Being the number one female racket in Colombia is not only a source of pride for María Camila Osorio Serrano, but also for an entire city that sees in her season after season the faithful representation of a female fighter in sport.
Simple, disciplined and full of joy, Osorio carries the label of being the most outstanding athlete in recent years (and surely in history) with a track record full of triumphs, with the US Open Junior in 2019 being her most precious title and the that consecrated it by taking it to be number one in the world in the category.
With a 2020 in which COVID-19 was the protagonist, the cucuteña’s season was short, highlighting its participation in the qualifiers of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, in addition to doing a European tour and participating in tournaments in the United States.
His 2021 began in Dubai with the illusion of entering the main draw of the Australian Open, in which he needed only one victory to integrate him. After that, the 19-year-old rojinegrade went to the United States to play the W60 in Rome, the W25 in Orlando and the W25 in Boca Raton, being in the last two runners-up in doubles.
Osorio returned to the city with his Spanish coach Ricardo Sánchez, with whom he trains for the different tournaments of the season. La Opinion spoke with the tennis player currently 185 in the world about the start of this year and its objectives.
María Camila, there was very little left to enter the main draw of Australia, she had us getting up early to follow the games, how was the experience?
The truth was a super nice experience. I was very close, it was a bit sad at the end because I had that illusion but it went very well, I played some very good games, at a good level. I begin to notice that I am level, I stayed one step away, I escaped for nothing.
Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open remain, will you try them?
Before those, I have other tournaments planned to start playing the Slam qualifiers, some will be given, the idea is that. I have to prepare for the upcoming Bogotá tournament, then start a European tour in brick dust to think about Roland Garros.
In tournaments, what comes?
Follow the WTA 500 of Monterrey in Mexico, the idea is to participate, I’m waiting. Then follows the W250 from Bogotá the other month. For now there is not much planned, we wait what happens with these two tournaments and then we look to travel to Europe.
People were not used to seeing her play in doubles, in the United States she doubles with the experienced Swiss Conny Perrin and they were runners-up in the W25s in Orlando and Boca Raton, is she a niche of yours to exploit?
With the doubles, thank God it went very well for me. I don’t do it a lot, I always lean towards the singles but you have to take advantage and play those games to gain confidence and the rest.
I had two good tournaments with Conny. We played last year for the first time in Orlado, we made the semifinals and that’s where we squared off to keep playing. She is a very good patner, it would be very good to continue playing with her depending on the tournaments in which we coincide.
Before Orlando and Boca Ratón, Rome played a double with the Mexican Ana Sánchez, how was the tournament?
He had already played with her two years ago, at that time he had to retire. This year we won the first round and my teacher Ricardo got COVID and we had to withdraw.
Speaking of COVID, what is it like to play in the middle of a pandemic?
It has been complicated by the few tournaments. Tournaments close super hard and it’s a bit difficult not being able to get out.
Mental toughness at this time?
Work is every day. Sometimes opportunities slip away. In this sport, more times are lost than are won. You have to be connected every week so that when the time comes, you burst it.
María Camila, you became a benchmark for sport in Cúcuta and Colombia, what is it like to carry that weight?
At first it cost me a bit, I’m not going to say no. I put a lot of pressure on at the beginning of last year that I didn’t start it very well. When I finished the US Open and be number one in the world in Junior, many things came to my mind: now that I reached the professional I had to win everything and that cost me.
In one way or another, the arrival of the pandemic and as a consequence the stoppage of the tournaments, helped me to relax and focus on other things. I relaxed a little more, I started to work on the psychological part, I started the competition and I think I was another Camila. I was mentally strong.
Under that new Camila, what are the goals for the season?
My goal is to get into the top 100 and start playing the Grand Slam tables.
How to get to that top 100?
I focus on working every day, the fruits are given with the help of God. I work every day, I always strive, I give my best in competitions. The other has to wait, it is my goal and I know that I have to be patient.
In the physical, how is it?
At this moment I am very well. In qualifying in Australia I had a slight pain but it was from the change of ball, it was super hard. I came from this tour without any injuries.
Regarding your desire to play one of the Grand Slam, which surface do you like the most?
I really like them all. I can’t choose one, I’ve played on grass as well. It would be between dust and fast court.
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