Lucciana Pérez Alarcón: the beginnings, triumphs and what is to come for the runner-up at Roland Garros Jr.

She was just four years old when she received the gift that would change her life. Don Miguel Alarcón, her maternal grandfather, decided to transfer her love for tennis to her with a beautiful wooden racket. That day, none of the people who saw how the little girl lulu Curiously, she picked up that gift of more than half a meter, she could have never imagined that fourteen years later, that same girl would be becoming the first Peruvian tennis player to play in the final of a Roland Garros Junior, which is equivalent to pure history of Peruvian sports.

With his meter 60 height, Luciana Perez Alarcon —now 18 years old— proved to be a little giant on the tennis court in Paris, last Saturday, June 9, when she played the match in which every tennis player longs to be. , she tells us as we walk towards one of the Los Inkas Golf Club tennis courts and responds to every greeting or show of affection from everyone who passes by and recognizes her. “This is like her home, we brought her here since she was four years old, that’s why they love her and value her so much around here”his mother replies, Sandy Alarconwho accompanies us in the interview.

The image with which Peru stays is that of a Luciana accomplished, finalist of a great tournament and with a projection towards a great future; But no one sees what’s behind. To begin with, the sacrifice she had to make to become number three in the ITF ranking in the Junior Women’s category. Her week is divided into five days of double-time work divided into two hours of training in the field and an hour and a half in the gym in the morning, and the same routine in the afternoon. She then plays a one-shift day. And finally on Sundays she can rest, disconnect from the stress of living as an elite athlete at her young age and connect with her family, her refuge.

“He trains in a spectacular, incredible way. What strikes me the most about her is her winning personality, her conviction. That’s why, When they ask me if I expected what he achieved at Roland Garros, I answer yes. Because he deserved it, because he always worked to achieve it, because he sacrificed a lot for that goal.”, values tupi venerothe tennis player who has known Lulu since she was 12 years old and already stood out from the rest, and who is now her coach at the Regatas club.

The family gatherings you missed, the parties you didn’t go to, the extra energy to attend your private classes after school. Those decisions—she prefers not to use the word sacrifice because she isn’t when you choose to do what you love above all else—defined the reward. “I know that later I will have that trip with my family, that vacation that I want, but today I enjoy every minute on the field”says Luciana.

This passion, her hunger for glory, is what Laura Arraya, the heroine of national tennis between the 80s and 90s, stands out about her. “I met her a few years ago, after the Tennis Federation conditioned the Campo de Marte to be able to train with girls from the national team. Then came the Sudamericano de Cali where I was captain and that’s where I began to realize her attitude, her discipline, her desire to be the best ”reveals who was also captain in the Billie Jean King Cup. The tournament helped the former athlete to realize another virtue of Pérez Alarcón: leadership. “Before the match against Argentina, my dad passed away, but I couldn’t return to the country. Lucciana dedicated her game to me. It is a gesture that I carry in my heart ”Arraya tells us.

near horizon

She started playing from a very young age and stood out above the rest. She has ten Junior Women’s singles titles and three of them won in the first four months of the year. She also played three Grand Slams last year (Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open) and in all three he stayed in the first round. But now, at 18, it’s time to make a decision. It is her last year in the Junior category, and then the US Open awaits her. What comes next has already been projected.

, he tells us. He is aware that, beyond his already demonstrated abilities, the jump from the Junior to the professional category is not easy and that is why he believes that it is best to go hand in hand with his studies. “That transition to the professional level is not easy, but she has shown that she is capable of everything. What she set out for, she achieved.”says Laura Arraya. “His goal was to get into the top 10 this year and he is in third place. There is no doubt that she wants to be the best of all ”complements Tupi Venero.

Those who know her closely and have seen her growth, like Laura and Tupi, highlight the passion that Lucciana Pérez Alarcón puts into everything she does. The Peruvian Tennis Federation applauds her achievements because they also support her financially. But no one better than her, who knows everything it has cost her to get to where she is, to celebrate and savor her triumph with all the courage that it entails. The future of Peruvian tennis is in good hands. The future is yours, Lucciana.