Barra Olympic Park is set to host its first official competition. From 10-12 December, tennis players will have the task of trying out the venue at the 2015 Correios Masters Cup test event. Among the 74 athletes that will be at the Olympic Tennis Centre is Natália Mayara, one of the most promising Brazilian stars who will compete at the Paralympic Games.

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The athlete from Pernambuco has been chasing a place amongst the sport’s elite from an early age. At 13, Natália found wheelchair tennis. At 16, she won her first titles, among them gold medal at the Paralympic School Games held by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee. In 2015, at 21 years of age, she won gold in the singles and doubles at the Parapan American Games in Toronto, and she currently sits in 19th position in the International Tennis Federation rankings, the highest-placed Brazilian athlete.

“I’m going to fight with everything I’ve got for the gold medal at the Paralympic Games”

Natália Mayara

The athlete has already planned her strategy to take top spot on the podium next year, a formula which involves dedication, focus and confidence: “I’m working hard, and my training is becoming more intense. This is making me feel secure and I believe that I’m currently playing my best tennis. The two gold medals won in Toronto made me believe even more in myself.”

Natália Mayara and Rejane Cândida celebrate winning gold in the doubles tournament at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games (Photo: CPB)

A hint of what’s to come

Part of the Aquece Rio series of test events, the 2015 Correios Masters Cup will test operations ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, such as management of the competition area and results, as well as the work of specialised volunteers for the sport. For the athletes, it will be an opportunity to personally test the courts and their playing surfaces.

“I hope to play well at the test event to get to know the courts and be able to adapt for the Paralympic Games,” Natália said.

The event will also include big names of Brazilian tennis in two friendly matches. On Friday (11 December), Bruno Soares and João Souza will form a doubles team to take on André Sá and Marcelo Demoliner in an exhibition event. The following day,  Thomaz Bellucci and Rogerio Dutra Silva – the two highest-placed Brazilians in the Association of Tennis Professionals singles ranking – will meet in the singles exhibition. 

“I’ve got butterflies in my stomach ahead of the test event”

Bruno Soares

As well as the wheelchair tennis competition and friendlies, the schedule at the Olympic Tennis Centre will include professional men’s, women’s and youth (12, 14 and 16 years old) tournaments. In the men’s tournament, the stand-out players are Guilherme Clezar and Thiago Monteiro. Among the women, Teliana Pereira and Gabriela Cé are the favourites. The wheelchair tennis tournament will also attract the biggest Brazilian stars: Rejane Cândida, Mayara’s partner in Toronto, and the pair of Daniel Rodrigues and Carlos Santos, also medallists in Canada, complete the list.