“At home, the custom of eating arepitas or cachapas with cheese (Venezuelan dish prepared with corn) for breakfast has not been lost. We have always tried to ensure that our traditions are not stopped,” says María Ray, mother of Valeria Ray , at the Junior Tennis World Cup.
The surprise was for the journalist who, listening to the various encouraging expressions of the North American tennis player, was suddenly stunned by the celebration of a point in Spanish. “Come on! Let’s go!” noted Valeria Ray after condemning the second set.
The number five in the world junior tennis championship had no problem talking to each other in both English and Spanish. However, it was his mother who emphasized “patience”, in our language, from the stands.
Valeria Ray, an American with Venezuelan parents, knocked out the caste in the second round, knocking out Mexican contender Lya Fernández in a close match with a final score of 7-6 (5) and 6-3 in favor of the North American .
“The first game is always very nervous. I’m just starting to find my game and I’ve gained more confidence. The wind was annoying, but we managed to get the result. I felt comfortable on the field and I can say that patience was the key to everything. With the level shown, I can handle this tournament”, condemned Valeria EL HERALDO after wiping the sweat.
The 17-year-old racket recognizes the high temperatures, but is not bothered by it. It’s a climate similar to what he usually sees in Florida, although he hadn’t set foot on the streets of Barranquilla. Neither those of Cali, nor Medellín, nor Bogotá, the cities he had visited before, had reminded him as much of his childhood as ‘la Arenosa’.
She likes English very much, but according to family law, Spanish is spoken in her house. Therefore, communication with her mother, who accompanies her in all her disputes, was in Spanish.
“It is a pride to see her compete, it is the fruit of all efforts. We want him to fulfill his dreams and the goal is for him to play a Grand Slam. We have lived in the United States for 23 years and we owe everything to this country,” his mother said.
Asthma wanted to take her down the path of swimming, but tennis was the sport she fell in love with for the rest of her life. Likewise, he likes Latino roots, though he feels great passion when he represents the US.
Source: El heraldo
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
