Solana Sierra, an isolated phenomenon that needs to be replicated and that cries out for more support for the tennis players of the future.

Tennis fans in Argentina, as well as those who aren't as keen on the racket, will be refreshing the Wimbledon website to find out the match schedule for Solana Sierra, who will face Germany's Laura Siegemund on Sunday in the round of 16 of the third Grand Slam of the season.

That's what the 21-year-old from Mar del Plata achieves, whose victories at the All England Championships demonstrate her talent and also reflect the results of years of battling the difficulties that most Argentine tennis players face. She is the first lucky loser to make it this far in a tournament of this category and has secured a place in the top 70 of the WTA rankings.

This talented player, who trained at the Teléfonos Club in Mar del Plata, has been talked about for some time. She trained with Bettina Fulco, a former world number 23 and quarterfinalist at Roland Garros in 1988. She was 15 years old when, with no ranking points, she received a wildcard from the Argentine Tennis Association (AAT) to play in the W25 in Buenos Aires. And she honored it by reaching the semifinals. The same story has been repeated in different tournaments over the last five years, such as the W35, which she won without dropping a set in 2024.

Tennium , a company that acts as a representation agency for tennis players, also kept an eye on her. It organizes the WTA 125 in Buenos Aires and gave Sierra a special invitation in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Tennium today represents the first Argentine to reach the second week of Wimbledon since Paola Suárez achieved it in 2004. And they are waiting for her with open arms for the next edition, which will take place from November 23 to 30.

"In 2024, Solana won six titles, four of which were in the country and in tournaments organized by the AAT. Competing at home, she earned 170 points, which were important in determining her entry into larger tournaments," the Association says, beating its chest.

It's also known that if a tennis player's career is to reach the elite, money is needed to travel, primarily to Europe, to train and compete against the best in the world. The talent of a rising star and the medals she can win in Argentina and the rest of South America aren't enough. Logically, the AAT didn't go that far, acknowledging that the United States isn't a country with one Grand Slam and three Masters 1000s.

The investment for the development of women's tennis amounts to $1,235,000, according to a statement from the Argentine Tennis Association itself, although this money was not specifically earmarked to boost the career of Solana Sierra, who appears to be the best prospect for women's tennis in Argentina. They explain: "We are not dedicated to financing the career of a particular player, but rather to working to increase the number of tournaments and thus provide more opportunities for many players."