In theory Daniela Seguel should be best remembered for her run at this week’s Claro Open Colsanitas, but a there is a tragic story that comes to mind when her name is mentioned.
This week in Bogota the world No.191 dropped just four games against Nicole Gibbs in the first round to win 6-2, 6-2. Becoming the first player from her country to win a WTA match since Silvana Urroz back in 1980. She continued her run with an even more impressive victory in the last 16. Taking out top seed Tatjana Maria 6-3, 6-1, in just 95 minutes with the help of 21 winners. A player currently ranked 129 places higher than her.
“I’m very happy I achieved the most important win of my career,” Seguel said. “I’ve been feeling better as days go by since I arrived Bogota.
“I’m really proud because I work every day to make history for my country. It’s also a motivation for me to keep improving my WTA ranking; it was one of the main objectives for this part of the season. All the effort is dedicated to my father. After he died, my only motivation is him.”
The death of Seguel’s father was one few could forget. In November 2016 she took on Paula Gonçalves in the final of an ITF event in Santiago. In the crowd was her father watching her. Midway through the match he collapsed whilst she was leading 6-2, 4-1. Three games later in the match, Seguel was told that her father had died as she retired from the tournament heartbroken. Being comforted on the court by her opponent.
Almost three months went by before Seguel returned to the tour. Since then, she has achieved a series of encouraging results. Last year she won an ITF $60,000 event in Barcelona in what is her biggest title to date. On top of that in 2017, she also claimed another $25,000 trophy as well as four ITF doubles titles.
Now the Chilean is the first from her country to reach a the quarter-finals of a WTA event. Where she will take on either Ana Bogdan or Anna Blinkova. Regardless of if she loses or not, Seguel will break into the top 180 for the first in her career at the age of 25.
