Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario ( born December 18, 1971 in Barcelona ) is a former Spanish professional tennis player. The clay court specialist, was the first Spanish number one world tennis rankings ( singles and doubles), won four Grand Slam titles in singles and six in doubles.

Biography

Inspired by her two older brothers, Emilio Sánchez and Javier Vicario, which should be on the men's tour, both top players, Sánchez began at the age of four years playing tennis. In 1985, the fourteen- year-old professional player.

Arantxa Sanchez surprised the tennis world for the first time in 1989, when they defeated the age of seventeen Steffi Graf, who had won five Grand Slam tournaments in a row in the final of the French Open. Sánchez was the hitherto youngest winner in Paris. The duel with the Germans should determine the future career of the Spaniard. Both were a total of seven times in Grand Slam finals against, with five Graf and Sanchez was able to record two victories for itself.

Toughness and her unyielding fighting spirit were soon the unmistakable hallmarks of the Spanish baseline player who has never lost a ball. Sánchez Vicario was a typical counter- player, although they themselves had no outstanding playful weapon, but on the other hand brought back almost every ball. So belonged to their game among other things, high moon balls that allowed the Spaniard to break the rhythm of opponents and coming back into play.

Sánchez had their most successful year as a single player in 1994, when they won both the French Open and the U.S. Open and a total of eight tournaments remained victorious.

Her fourth Grand Slam singles success made the Spaniard in 1998 perfectly when she again won the French Open by defeating Monica Seles.

Sánchez Vicario reached at least twice the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments in singles. In addition to their four individual victories reach their eight finals.

1995 Arantxa Sánchez twelve weeks, the world number one ranking in singles and doubles. The Spaniard became the first player to Martina Navratilova, who succeeded this time.

Sánchez Vicario won six Grand Slam doubles title and four mixed doubles.

1991 Sanchez was a member of the victorious Spanish Fed Cup team that defeated the U.S. in the final - an achievement that could repeat the Spaniards in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1998. Sánchez is also the record holder for most wins in singles and doubles within the Fed Cup competition.

Sánchez was also a member of the victorious Spanish Hopman Cup teams in 1990 and 2002.

Five times she represented her native country at the Olympics, winning two silver and two bronze medals.

Sánchez won in her career total of 29 individual titles and 69 doubles titles and earned scarce $ 17 million in prize money.

In August 2000, the Spaniard married the sports journalist Joan Vehils. The separation was followed only ten months later. In November 2002, Sánchez announced their retirement from professional tennis known, but gave a brief comeback in 2004 when she played a few selected double tournaments.

In 2005 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of the American trade publication Tennis Magazine was elected to the 27th place of the best players of all time. In 2007 she induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 2012 was the team manager of the Spanish Fed Cup team.

She lives today in Sitges on the Costa del Garraf.

Grand Slam results

Publications

• Arantxa ¡ vamos! - Memorias de una lucha, una vida y una mujer. ( Vamos! memories of a life, a struggle and a woman. ) La Esfera De Los Libros, 2012, ISBN 978-8499700090 (biography).