Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Explained

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Residence:Barcelona, Spain
Full Name:Aránzazu Isabel María Sánchez Vicario
Birth Date:1971 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Barcelona, Spain
Height:1.69 m
Turnedpro:1985
Retired:2002
Plays:Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney:$16,942,640[1]
  • 29th in all-time rankings (female)
Tennishofyear:2007
Tennishofid:arantxa-sanchez-vicario
Singlestitles:29
Highestsinglesranking:No. 1 (6 February 1995)
Australianopenresult:F (1994, 1995)
Frenchopenresult:W (1989, 1994, 1998)
Wimbledonresult:F (1995, 1996)
Usopenresult:W (1994)
Othertournaments:yes
Grandslamcupresult:QF (1998, 1999)
Wtachampionshipsresult:F (1993)
Doublestitles:69
Highestdoublesranking:No. 1 (19 October 1992)
Australianopendoublesresult:W (1992, 1995, 1996)
Frenchopendoublesresult:F (1992, 1995)
Wimbledondoublesresult:W (1995)
Usopendoublesresult:W (1993, 1994)
Othertournamentsdoubles:yes
Wtachampionshipsdoublesresult:W (1992, 1995)
Mixed:Yes
Mixedtitles:4
Mixedrecord:[2]
Australianopenmixedresult:W (1993)
Frenchopenmixedresult:W (1990, 1992)
Wimbledonmixedresult:3R (1990)
Usopenmixedresult:W (2000)
Team:yes
Fedcupresult:W (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998)
Hopmancupresult:W (1990, 2002)
Medaltemplates-Expand:yes
Coachyears:2015–

Aránzazu Isabel María "Arantxa" Sánchez Vicario (pronounced as /es/; born 18 December 1971) is a Spanish former world No. 1 tennis player in both singles and doubles. She won 14 Grand Slam titles: four in singles, six in women's doubles, and four in mixed doubles. She also won four Olympic medals and five Fed Cup titles representing Spain. In 1994, she was crowned the ITF World Champion for the year.

Career

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario started playing tennis at the age of four, when she followed her older brothers Emilio Sánchez and Javier Sánchez (both of whom became professional players) to the court and hit balls against the wall with her first racquet. As a 17-year-old, she became the youngest winner of the women's singles title at the 1989 French Open, defeating World No. 1 Steffi Graf in the final. (Monica Seles broke the record the following year when she won the title at age 16.)

Sánchez Vicario quickly developed a reputation on the tour for her tenacity and refusal to concede a point. Commentator Bud Collins described her as "unceasing in determined pursuit of tennis balls, none seeming too distant to be retrieved in some manner and returned again and again to demoralize opponents" and nicknamed her the "Barcelona Bumblebee".[3]

She won six women's doubles Grand Slam titles, including the US Open in 1993 (with Helena Suková) and Wimbledon in 1995 (with Jana Novotná). She also won four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. In 1991, she helped Spain win its first-ever Fed Cup title, and helped Spain win the Fed Cup in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1998. Sánchez Vicario holds the records for the most matches won by a player in Fed Cup competition (72) and for most ties played (58). She was ITF world champion in 1994 in singles.[4] She was also a member of the Spanish teams that won the Hopman Cup in 1990 and 2002.

Over the course of her career, she won 29 singles titles and 69 doubles titles before retiring in November 2002.[5] She came out of retirement in 2004 to play doubles in a few select tournaments as well as the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she became the only tennis player to play in five Olympics in the Games' history.[6] Sánchez Vicario was the most decorated Olympian in Spanish history with four medals—two silver and two bronze.[7] Her medal count has since been surpassed by David Cal and Saúl Craviotto with five medals each.[8]

In 2005, TENNIS magazine ranked her in 27th place in its list of 40 Greatest Players of the TENNIS era and in 2007, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was only the third Spanish player (and the first Spanish woman) to be inducted.

In 2009, Sánchez Vicario was present at the opening ceremony of Madrid's Caja Mágica, the new venue for the Madrid Masters. The second show court is named Court Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in her honour.[9]

Personal life

She has been married twice: her first marriage to the sports writer Juan Vehils in July 2000 ended in 2001. She then married businessman Josep Santacana in September 2008, with whom she has a daughter (born 2009) and son (born 2011).[10] [11] [12] In 2019, Sánchez Vicario and Santacana divorced.[13]

In 2012, Sánchez Vicario published an autobiography in which she claimed that, despite having earned $60 million over the course of her career, her parents had exerted almost total control over her finances and lost all of her money.[14] The same year, Sánchez Vicario sued her father and older brother Javier for the alleged mishandling of her career earnings. The court case continued over three years, and in 2015 concluded in a private settlement.[15]

She has faced multiple court proceedings relating to charges of tax evasion and fraud. In 2009, Sánchez Vicario was found guilty of tax evasion and ordered to repay €3.5 million.[16] In 2015, Banque de Luxembourg successfully filed complaint against her for credit and property fraud amounting to $5.2 million; however, they were unable to recoup it. In 2018, Sánchez Vicario was once again charged with fraud, for deliberately misleading the courts on her financial set-up during the previous case.[17] As of 2021, Barcelona prosecutors are seeking a four-year jail term for Sánchez Vicario, due to further allegations of fraud relating to the transfer of assets to avoid paying her debts from a previous lawsuit.[18] In 2024, she received a suspended sentence.[19]

As well as tennis-playing siblings Javier and Emilio, Sánchez Vicario also has an older sister—Marisa—who briefly played professional tennis, peaking at world no. 368 in 1990.[20] [21]

Career statistics

See main article: articles and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario career statistics.

Grand Slam performance timelines

Singles

Tournament19861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002SRW–L
Australian OpenNHAAAASFSFSFFFQF3RQF2RQFA1R0 / 1141–11
French OpenQ1QFQFW2RFSFSFWFFQFWSFSF2R1R3 / 1672–13
WimbledonA1R1RQF1RQF2R4R4RFFSFQF2R4R2RA0 / 1541–15
US OpenA1R4RQFSFQFFSFW4R4RQFQF4R4R3R1R1 / 1656–15
Win–loss0–04–37–315–26–319–416–418–423–221–419–415–419–39-415–44–30–34 / 58210–54

Doubles

Tournament Career SR
Australian OpenAAAA3RWQFSFWWSFQFQF1RAFAAA3 / 11
French Open3R1RQFQFSFFQFAFSFSFSFQF1R1R1RA1R1R0 / 17
Wimbledon1R1R1RQFQFSFQFFWQFQFQF3R3RQFAA1RA1 / 16
US Open2R2R1RQF3RSFWWQFFSF3RSF3RQF1RAAA2 / 16
Grand Slam SR0 / 30 / 30 / 30 / 30 / 41 / 41 / 41 / 32 / 41 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 30 / 30 / 00 / 20 / 16 / 60

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 12 (4 titles, 8 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore
Win French Open Clay 7–6(8–6), 3–6, 7–5
LossFrench OpenClay3–6, 4–6
LossHard Monica Seles 3–6, 3–6
LossAustralian Open Hard Steffi Graf 0–6, 2–6
Win French Open Clay 6–4, 6–4
Win US Open Hard Steffi Graf 1–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
LossAustralian Open Hard Mary Pierce 3–6, 2–6
Loss1995French Open Clay Steffi Graf 5–7, 6–4, 0–6
LossGrass Steffi Graf6–4, 1–6, 5–7
Loss French Open Clay Steffi Graf 3–6, 7–6(7–4), 8–10
Loss Wimbledon Grass Steffi Graf 3–6, 5–7
Win French Open Clay Monica Seles 7–6(7–5), 0–6, 6–2

Doubles: 11 (6 titles, 5 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win 1992 Australian Open Hard 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Loss1992 French Open Clay 3–6, 2–6
Win 1993 Hard Helena Suková 6–4, 6–2
Loss 1994WimbledonGrass Jana Novotná Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva
4–6, 1–6
Win 1994US OpenHard Jana Novotná Katerina Maleeva
Robin White
6–3, 6–3
Win 1995Australian OpenHard Jana Novotná Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva
6–3, 6–7(3–7), 6–4
Loss 1995French OpenClay Jana Novotná Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva
7–6(8–6), 4–6, 5–7
Win 1995WimbledonGrass Jana Novotná Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva
5–7, 7–5, 6–4
Win 1996Australian OpenHard Chanda Rubin Lindsay Davenport
Mary Joe Fernandez
7–5, 2–6, 6–4
Loss 1996US OpenHard Jana Novotná Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva
6–1, 1–6, 4–6
Loss 2002Australian OpenHard Daniela Hantuchová Martina Hingis
Anna Kournikova
2–6, 7–6(7–4), 1–6

Mixed doubles: 8 (4 titles, 4 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss 1989French OpenClay Horacio de la Peña Manon Bollegraf
Tom Nijssen
3–6, 7–6, 2–6
Win 1990French OpenClay Jorge Lozano Nicole Provis
Danie Visser
7–6, 7–6
Loss 1991US OpenHard Emilio Sánchez Manon Bollegraf
Tom Nijssen
2–6, 6–7
Loss 1992Australian OpenHard Todd Woodbridge Nicole Provis
Mark Woodforde
3–6, 6–4, 9–11
Win 1992French OpenClay Todd Woodbridge Lori McNeil
Bryan Shelton
6–2, 6–3
Win 1993Australian OpenHard Todd Woodbridge Zina Garrison
Rick Leach
7–5, 6–4
Loss 2000Australian OpenHard Todd Woodbridge Rennae Stubbs
Jared Palmer
5–7, 6–7
Win 2000US OpenHard Jared Palmer Anna Kournikova
Max Mirnyi
6–4, 6–3

Summer Olympics

Singles: 2 medals (1 silver medal, 1 bronze medal)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore
Bronze1992BarcelonaClayTiedDNP
bgcolor=silverSilver1996AtlantaHard Lindsay Davenport6–7(8–10), 2–6
Note: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario lost in the semi-finals to Jennifer Capriati 3–6, 6–3, 1–6. In 1992, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semi-final players received bronze medals

Doubles: 2 medals (1 silver medal, 1 bronze medal)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
bgcolor=silverSilver1992BarcelonaClay Conchita Martínez Gigi Fernández
Mary Joe Fernandez
5–7, 6–2, 2–6
Bronze1996AtlantaHard Conchita Martínez Manon Bollegraf
Brenda Schultz
6–3, 6–1

Year-end championships finals

Doubles: 6 (2 titles, 4 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss 1990New York CityCarpet Mercedes Paz Kathy Jordan
Elizabeth Smylie
6–7(4–7), 4–6
Win 1992New York CityCarpet Helena Suková Larisa Neiland
Jana Novotná
7–6(7–4), 6–1
Loss 1994New York CityCarpet Jana Novotná Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva
3–6, 7–6(7–4), 3–6
Win 1995New York CityCarpet Jana Novotná Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva
6–2, 6–1
Loss 1996New York CityCarpet Jana Novotná Lindsay Davenport
Mary Joe Fernandez
3–6, 2–6
Loss 1999New York CityCarpet Larisa Neiland Martina Hingis
Anna Kournikova
4–6, 4–6

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Career Prize Money Leaders . Women's Tennis Association.
  2. Web site: ITF tennis bio . 3 August 2015 . 26 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926183013/https://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=20001427 . dead .
  3. Book: Bud Collins' Tennis Encyclopedia . Visible Ink Press . 1996 . 1-57859-000-0 . Collins . Bud . Bud Collins . 434 . Hollander . Zander.
  4. Web site: Aranxta Sanchez Vicario WTA Bio Page . 17 March 2009 . 16 April 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080416112729/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/PlayerBio2.asp?PlayerID=190008 . dead .
  5. News: 13 November 2002 . PLUS: TENNIS; Sánchez-Vicario Ends Her Career . . 12 May 2009.
  6. News: Notebook: Rower makes history. 12 May 2009 . 1 July 2004 . USA Today.
  7. Web site: Arantxa sanchez Vicario . 12 May 2009 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927183742/http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=244 . 27 September 2007 .
  8. Web site: Saul Craviotto makes history. 7 August 2021.
  9. News: Tennis Stadium Opens (and Closes) in Madrid . The New York Times . Christopher . Clarey . 9 May 2009 . 25 April 2010.
  10. http://www.tennis.com/backcourt/general/backcourt.aspx?id=146044 Wedding Bells: Sanchez-Vicario Gets Married!
  11. http://www.zimbio.com/Arantxa+Sanchez-vicario/articles/5/Arantxa+Sanchez+Vicario+gave+birth+baby+girl Arantxa Sanchez Vicario gave birth to a baby girl
  12. News: 3 November 2011 . Arantxa Sánchez Vicario alumbra a su segundo hijo . es . El Periódico de Catalunya . 26 December 2023.
  13. News: Guerra . Andres . Arantxa Sánchez Vicario ya está divorciada . 18 July 2020 . La Vanguardia . 21 March 2019.
  14. Web site: 8 February 2012 . Sanchez Vicario says $60M in career earnings gone . 3 July 2015 . USA Today.
  15. News: Lynch . Donal . Game, set and... cash troubles: how Wimbledon stars like Becker, Borg and Sanchez courted controversies . 18 July 2020 . Belfast Telegraph. 30 June 2018.
  16. News: Galaz . Mabel . Naming and shaming the celebrity tax dodgers . 18 July 2020 . La Vanguardia . 6 May 2014.
  17. News: Adicott . Adam . Former No.1 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Facing Financial And Personal Upheaval . 18 July 2020 . La Vanguardia . 25 February 2002.
  18. Web site: Syed . Yasmin . 22 December 2021 . Former world No 1 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario facing four-year jail term for fraud . 26 December 2023 . express.co.uk.
  19. Web site: Former tennis star Arantxa Sanchez Vicario given suspended jail term . 2024-01-17 . Inti . Landauro . reuters.com.
  20. News: ATP Marisa Sanchez Vicario Bio . 18 July 2020 . WTA Website.
  21. News: Taules . Silvia . 23 March 2019 . Marisa Sánchez Vicario, la silenciosa hermana del clan: viuda, empresaria, tenista . es . El Confidencial . 18 July 2020.