'A dream that comes true' for Argentina's Sierra

“At the US Open I was a set and 4-0 down, so I was already going home,” Sierra told rolandgarros.com after toppling China’s Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 6-2. “When I won I couldn’t believe it.

"I came to Paris with another mentality, because I think I have more trust in myself and I know I can play and compete with the best.” 

Hard to argue with that. Sierra has put in the hard yards since becoming the first woman from Argentina to play a Roland-Garros girls’ final in 22 years. The Mar del Plata native jumped nearly 300 spots in the rankings to make the top 200 in 2023; the following year she won six titles across all levels. This year she has already won back-to-back titles, including her biggest at a 125K event in Antalya, Turkey.

A powerful ball striker who slides effortlessly on the clay, Sierra came to Paris just a touch off her career high, at No.112 in the WTA rankings.

She also came with a new coach. 

Embarking on a trial at the Nadal Academy with coach Daniel Gomez Rocha, who recently spent five years working with Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala, the Argentinian is hungry to take her game to the next level.

“It’s our second tournament together,” she said of her time with Gomez. “For me it would be really special to be in the Nadal Academy because it’s a really good place for training and to be more professional.”

Sierra says that she would like to spend more time in Europe because to travel the tour from a base in South America can be a brutal slog. 

“Of course it’s easier being in Europe,” she said. “In Argentina everything is really far away, so it will be really good if I can stay in Europe.”

Her coach says he enjoys working with another South American player in Spain, and praises her for her adaptability and her athleticism.

“It’s a dream that comes true,” coach Gomez told rolandgarros.com after Sierra’s victory. “Roland-Garros is a tournament that all South Americans have special feelings about, so it’s important for us to be here. 

“Even though it’s the second time qualifying at the Slams for her, it’s something that can be a new thing for us.” 

One of three Argentinian women to qualify for the main draw, along with Julia Riera and Maria Lourdes Carle, 20-year-old Sierra is currently the highest-ranked woman from her country. 

“It’s super special,” she says. “Feels crazy to be the best in Argentina, I will try to keep going.” 

Easy power has always come naturally to Sierra, but these days she is focused on striking a better balance between power and precision. 

“When I can play really aggressive and be consistent at the same time, it’s when I play the best,” she said. “These past months I am trying to do that, to be aggressive but more consistent, because sometimes I add more power than I need to use – it’s about balance.” 

There's still a long way to climb, but the eyeball test hints that Sierra might have the talent to become a household name on the WTA Tour, and a source of inspiration to young Argentinians, just like legends Gabriela Sabatini, Juan Martin del Potro and Diego Schwartzman were to her. 

But there’s no need to rush - Sierra's happy to take it step by step. 

“I think I am doing a really good job, year by year, improving,” she said. “Every year I am getting better. I am just trying to focus on the work and to be better every day. I know I have the level to compete with the best tennis players.”

Mboko breaks through 

Canada’s Victoria Mboko reached the main draw at a major for the first time on Friday by recording a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Kaja Juvan. Mboko, ranked 122, recently took a set off of Coco Gauff in the second round at Rome and recorded her first WTA main draw win in March at Miami.

Sara Bejlek, 2022 girls’ singles semi-finalist, reached the main draw as well, with a 6-0, 6-4 win over top-seeded Yuliia Starodubtseva, while Daria Saville rallied past Taylor Townsend, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.