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Magda Gual Lleó was born in El Vendrell on June 11, 1962, married with two children, Jordi and Sergi. She was working her entire working life in the same company until August 1, 2019 when she retired. She is very active and has great knowledge in various subjects.
Currently, she dedicates herself to her three great passions: she is the number 6 tennis player in the world ranking in the 60 years category, she is the vice president of the Pau Casals del Vendrell Musical Association and she volunteers. She is probably the most successful athlete in the history of Vendrell.
How many years have you worked before you retired?
36 years. I joined the Caixabank del Vendrell office on April 18, 1983 and retired on August 1, 2019. I was deputy director for 23 years until there was a unification of offices in El Vendrell and I became part of the Store branch in Personal Banking (Premier) until my retirement. Today I can say that it is one of the best things that has happened to me in my life. I feel very lucky to have been able to fulfill my vocation.
How were you able to combine your tennis career with your work at the bank?
It was a challenge, but it was also very rewarding, I learned to manage my time efficiently and prioritize my goals. A little hard, since work took up many hours. I trained two days a week and tried to play a game on the weekend. Tennis for me has always been a hobby. When he could, he participated in some tournaments in the province of Tarragona and Barcelona. In order to play in championships, I had to ask the championship organization to show me the game in the afternoon starting at 5 p.m. When I left the office I would take the car and eat a sandwich. He always arrived right at game time. When I played team championships I had to ask for vacations, since they lasted a week. He practically spent all his vacations going to play. Now that I no longer work at the bank, I train three days a week and play a game on the weekend. By having more free time, I can participate in more championships.
What has cost you the most in your professional career?
Mine has been vocational, dedicating many hours at work, but enjoying it a lot. I have been the third generation at Caixa (my grandfather opened the Vendrell office in 1935 and, later, my father was also the director). When I was little I wanted to work in the entity. I remember my father telling me: "Don't you see that only men work in this job." Luckily, this changed and my dream came true.
And in your career as an amateur tennis player?
I love tennis and, therefore, the sacrifices, which there are, have been worth it. Tennis has always been in the background, since my parents never considered that I could dedicate myself to this sport. At the age of 13 I picked up a racket for the first time and went to the fronton until at the age of 15 my lifelong coach, Jan Güixens, saw me and together with his two children and two other boys, we started training. I have been lucky enough to find him, everything I know I owe to him. I played my first championship at 19 years old. It was the provincial championship in Tarragona and I won it. At that time, the president of the C.T. Tarragona was Agustí Pujol, who later became president of the RFET, and he proposed that I play for the Tarragona team. I was playing in this club for 28 years and for 11 years I have been a member of the R.C.T. senior team. Barcelona 1899. From the age of 35, in the senior category, is when I have been winning the most tournaments. I have been selected in the team of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation representing Spain in the world team championships on 13 occasions.
How many tournaments have you won?
I have won 8 individual championships in Spain, 13 doubles and 32 in Catalonia. With the R.C.T. team. Barcelona has participated in the European Club Championship nine times, winning one gold, two silver and three bronze medals. We have also won the Spanish championship eight times and the Catalan championship 22 times. I am currently number 6 in the world ranking in the 60 years category.
Who is your favorite tennis player?
Roger Federer y Martina Navratilova.
What do you like most about tennis?
Tennis is an individual sport where the good and the bad depends on you, the physical state of the person is very important, but also the mental one. I like it because you work on the physical aspect and the strategy. You always have to be very focused.
What style of tennis do you like the most?
Within tennis there are different styles of play (aggressive, defensive...), each time it is based more on the power of the shots than on skill. The players before were more artists. Those of now base their game on physicality. I prefer the old one, artistic tennis.
What is your opinion on the role of women in tennis?
In professional tennis, women have made great progress in recent years, competing in the same tournaments as men and receiving similar financial prizes. It is very important to continue working to achieve gender equality in tennis and I hope that in the future the differences will be even smaller.
What do you think of the rise of women's tennis in Spain?
Without a doubt, the great promoters of women's tennis in Spain have been Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez. After them, the number of female players has been increasing. There are many girls who play very well, it is very difficult to get to the top and stay at the top.
What is your opinion about the future of tennis in Spain?
I think the future of tennis in Spain is very promising. We have many talented young people who are emerging internationally. I think that Spain can once again be a tennis power in the coming years. Right now we have the possible replacement for Nadal, which is Carlos Alcaraz. I really like how he plays, since he does different things, but he is very young and has to be measured.
What would you say to a person who wants to start playing tennis?
Let him enjoy it, let him have a good time, let him have the illusion of wanting to learn but, at the same time, be disciplined. Tennis, like any other sport, requires sacrifice and patience and the results will come. The beginnings are hard, but later, the more you know, the more you like it. May you never stop pursuing your dreams. If you have a passion, fight for it. I would also tell them to be persistent and never give up. It's not easy to get what you want, but if you work hard, anything is possible.
What has been the tournament that you remember best?
The first championship I won when I was 19 years old. It was the provincial championship in Tarragona. Afterwards there have been many of which I have good memories, especially those in which I have had to fight a lot overcoming match points.
He also works in the Pau Casals del Vendrell Musical Association.
I am currently the vice president. In 2015 there was a renewal of the board of directors and the person who ran for president proposed that I join his board as treasurer. My father had previously held a position in this entity and I could not refuse. After 5 years the board was renewed and the current president wanted me to be vice president.
What do you like most about your current social occupation in this association?
It has allowed me to meet many people in the field of music. Also the fact of contributing my grain of sand to make the figure of Pau Casals known (concerts, conferences, exhibitions...) enriches me a lot personally. This year, 2023, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the death of Pau Casals and the 50th anniversary of the creation of our association. I recommend visiting our website.
What has Pau Casals' music brought you?
It has given me a lot, peace, emotion, inspiration and tranquility in difficult times.
Which Pau Casals song do you like the most?
Even today, after listening to El cant dels ocells countless times, I am moved. El Pessebre is also one of his masterpieces. With his music, the maestro tried to bring peace to the whole world. He has been the world's greatest cellist of all time and also a conductor and composer. I am very grateful for his music and his legacy.
What do you admire about Pau Casals that has helped you in your life?
His love for music and his permanent commitment to peace. He put his values (peace, freedom and justice) before his fame as a musician, director and composer. He never played or conducted a concert again in any country in the world where there was a dictatorship. He was an ambassador of La Paz. Furthermore, Pau Casals was born in my town, El Vendrell. He was a man who dedicated his entire life to fighting for peace, freedom and justice. In 1936 he was forced to go into exile and promised not to return to Catalonia while there was a dictatorship in Spain, which he fulfilled. In 1958 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1971 he composed the United Nations Anthem and that same year at that headquarters he conducted a concert where he was awarded the Peace Medal. Two years later, at the age of 97, he died in Puerto Rico. It was in 1979 when he was transferred to Catalonia and where he is buried (El Vendrell). I completely agree with these values, which are essential to creating a better world, and I always try to apply them.
What is your recipe for retired people who want to remain active?
Let them enjoy their free time and focus on their hobbies. Retirement is an opportunity to do everything you couldn't do before, look for activities in which you can collaborate. There are many associations and volunteers. Society appreciates it and it fulfills you personally. Walking every day or playing a sport helps you stay physically and mentally well.
What would you most like to do in the future?
If my health allows, I would like to continue training and competing in tennis and help society through volunteering and association.
With so many activities that you have carried out throughout your life, could you share an anecdote?
When I started competing I didn't know any players and in a championship I saw that my name was repeated in the players' table. I told the referee and he told me that there was another player whose name was like me (my first and last name is not very common). Another anecdote was years ago at a team world championship in Türkiye. Without realizing it, I kept another player's passport and on the way back she was alone. So I barely spoke English and when I handed in my passport at the airport they told me it was someone else's. I called the other player to bring me mine and I would give him his. I missed the flight and they told me there were no more flights until the next morning. In the end, paying extra fees and waiting many hours alone at the airport, I was able to return home. At another World Cup, also in Turkey, my suitcase containing my tennis shoes did not arrive and I had to play with walking shoes. After two days I recovered the suitcase.
