Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Family name hatnote Template:Infobox tennis biography Aránzazu Isabel María "Arantxa" Sánchez Vicario ({{#invoke:IPA|main}};Template:Efn born 18 December 1971) is a Spanish former professional tennis player. She was ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for 12 weeks, as well as the world No. 1 in women's doubles for 111 weeks. A defensive baseliner, Sánchez Vicario won 29 WTA Tour-level singles titles and 69 doubles titles, including 14 major 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, Sánchez Vicario was crowned the ITF World Champion of 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".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sánchez Vicario was the most decorated Olympian in Spanish history with four medals—two silver and two bronze.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her medal count has since been surpassed by David Cal and Saúl Craviotto with five medals each.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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).<ref>Wedding Bells: Sanchez-Vicario Gets Married! Tennis.com, 21 September 2008</ref><ref>Arantxa Sanchez Vicario gave birth to a baby girl Template:Webarchive Zimbio.com, 3 March 2009</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, Sánchez Vicario and Santacana divorced.<ref name="Divorce">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Sue">Template:Cite news</ref>

She has faced multiple court proceedings relating to charges of tax evasion and fraud. Between 1989 and 1993, she had falsely claimed to be resident of Andorra for tax purposes but was actually residing in Barcelona, Spain. As a result, she was ordered to pay back taxes and penalties.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2009, Sánchez Vicario was found guilty of tax evasion and ordered to repay €3.5 million.<ref name="Evasion">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="Fraud">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2024, she received a suspended sentence.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Sister">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Older Sister">Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

Grand Slam performance timelines

Singles

Tournament	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	SR	W–L
Australian Open	NH	A	A	A	A	SF	SF	SF	F	F	QF	3R	QF	2R	QF	A	1R	0 / 11	41–11
French Open	Q1	QF	QF	W	2R	F	SF	SF	W	F	F	QF	W	SF	SF	2R	1R	3 / 16	72–13
Wimbledon	A	1R	1R	QF	1R	QF	2R	4R	4R	F	F	SF	QF	2R	4R	2R	A	0 / 15	41–15
US Open	A	1R	4R	QF	SF	QF	F	SF	W	4R	4R	QF	QF	4R	4R	3R	1R	1 / 16	56–15
Win–loss	0–0	4–3	7–3	15–2	6–3	19–4	16–4	18–4	23–2	21–4	19–4	15–4	19–3	9-4	15–4	4–3	0–3	4 / 58	210–54

Doubles

Tournament	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	Career SR
Australian Open	A	A	A	A	3R	W	QF	SF	W	W	SF	QF	QF	1R	A	F	A	A	A	3 / 11
French Open	3R	1R	QF	QF	SF	F	QF	A	F	SF	SF	SF	QF	1R	1R	1R	A	1R	1R	0 / 17
Wimbledon	1R	1R	1R	QF	QF	SF	QF	F	W	QF	QF	QF	3R	3R	QF	A	A	1R	A	1 / 16
US Open	2R	2R	1R	QF	3R	SF	W	W	QF	F	SF	3R	SF	3R	QF	1R	A	A	A	2 / 16
Grand Slam SR	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 4	1 / 4	1 / 4	1 / 3	2 / 4	1 / 4	0 / 4	0 / 4	0 / 4	0 / 4	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 0	0 / 2	0 / 1	6 / 60

Grand Slam finals

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

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1989	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf	7–6(8–6), 3–6, 7–5
Loss	1991	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Monica Seles	3–6, 4–6
Loss	1992	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Monica Seles	3–6, 3–6
Loss	1994	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf	0–6, 2–6
Win	1994	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Mary Pierce	6–4, 6–4
Win	1994	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf	1–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
Loss	1995	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Mary Pierce	3–6, 2–6
Loss	1995	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf	5–7, 6–4, 0–6
Loss	1995	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf	6–4, 1–6, 5–7
Loss	1996	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf	3–6, 7–6(7–4), 8–10
Loss	1996	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf	3–6, 5–7
Win	1998	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Monica Seles	7–6(7–5), 0–6, 6–2

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

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1992	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Helena Suková	Template:Flagicon Mary Joe Fernandez Template:Flagicon Zina Garrison	6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Loss	1992	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Conchita Martínez	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva	3–6, 2–6
Win	1993	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Helena Suková	Template:Flagicon Amanda Coetzer Template:Flagicon Inés Gorrochategui	6–4, 6–2
Loss	1994	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva	4–6, 1–6
Win	1994	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Katerina Maleeva Template:Flagicon Robin White	6–3, 6–3
Win	1995	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva	6–3, 6–7(3–7), 6–4
Loss	1995	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva	7–6(8–6), 4–6, 5–7
Win	1995	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva	5–7, 7–5, 6–4
Win	1996	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Chanda Rubin	Template:Flagicon Lindsay Davenport Template:Flagicon Mary Joe Fernandez	7–5, 2–6, 6–4
Loss	1996	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva	6–1, 1–6, 4–6
Loss	2002	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Daniela Hantuchová	Template:Flagicon Martina Hingis Template:Flagicon Anna Kournikova	2–6, 7–6(7–4), 1–6

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

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1989	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Horacio de la Peña	Template:Flagicon Manon Bollegraf Template:Flagicon Tom Nijssen	3–6, 7–6, 2–6
Win	1990	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Jorge Lozano	Template:Flagicon Nicole Provis Template:Flagicon Danie Visser	7–6, 7–6
Loss	1991	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Emilio Sánchez	Template:Flagicon Manon Bollegraf Template:Flagicon Tom Nijssen	2–6, 6–7
Loss	1992	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Todd Woodbridge	Template:Flagicon Nicole Provis Template:Flagicon Mark Woodforde	3–6, 6–4, 9–11
Win	1992	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Todd Woodbridge	Template:Flagicon Lori McNeil Template:Flagicon Bryan Shelton	6–2, 6–3
Win	1993	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Todd Woodbridge	Template:Flagicon Zina Garrison Template:Flagicon Rick Leach	7–5, 6–4
Loss	2000	Australian Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Todd Woodbridge	Template:Flagicon Rennae Stubbs Template:Flagicon Jared Palmer	5–7, 6–7
Win	2000	US Open	Hard	Template:Flagicon Jared Palmer	Template:Flagicon Anna Kournikova Template:Flagicon Max Mirnyi	6–4, 6–3

Summer Olympics

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

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Bronze	1992	Barcelona	Clay	Tied	DNP
Silver	1996	Atlanta	Hard	Template:Flagicon Lindsay Davenport	6–7(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)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Silver	1992	Barcelona	Clay	Template:Flagicon Conchita Martínez	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Mary Joe Fernandez	5–7, 6–2, 2–6
Bronze	1996	Atlanta	Hard	Template:Flagicon Conchita Martínez	Template:Flagicon Manon Bollegraf Template:Flagicon Brenda Schultz	6–3, 6–1

Year-end championships finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1993	New York City	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Steffi Graf	1–6, 4–6, 6–3, 1–6

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

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1990	New York City	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Mercedes Paz	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan Template:Flagicon Elizabeth Smylie	6–7(4–7), 4–6
Win	1992	New York City	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Helena Suková	Template:Flagicon Larisa Neiland Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	7–6(7–4), 6–1
Loss	1994	New York City	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva	3–6, 7–6(7–4), 3–6
Win	1995	New York City	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Gigi Fernández Template:Flagicon Natasha Zvereva	6–2, 6–1
Loss	1996	New York City	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Jana Novotná	Template:Flagicon Lindsay Davenport Template:Flagicon Mary Joe Fernandez	3–6, 2–6
Loss	1999	New York City	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Larisa Neiland	Template:Flagicon Martina Hingis Template:Flagicon Anna Kournikova	4–6, 4–6

See also

• WTA Awards
• World number 1 ranked female tennis players

External links

• Template:WTA
• Template:ITF
• Template:Fed Cup player
• Template:Tennis Hall of Fame
• Template:Olympedia
• Template:Olympics.com
• Template:COE profile
• Template:Webarchive Template:In lang
• Template:Webarchive
• Golden Heart Award 1997 granted by Spanish Heart Foundation