Having captured major titles, earned Olympic medals and represented Spain in Davis Cup and Fed Cup competition, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Andres Gimeno and Manolo Santana truly earned their status among the most beloved athletes in their nation, and some of the most successful in the world. In recognition of their achievements, the trio has already been honored with the highest honor in the sport — induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In a special ceremony on April 22 at the Barcelona Open, this achievement was celebrated once again when they were presented with a one-of-a-kind Hall of Fame ring.
“Arantxa, Andres and Manolo have won the most coveted titles in tennis and have achieved rankings among the best players in the sport, while serving as ambassadors for tennis worldwide,” said Hall of Fame Chairman Christopher Clouser. “They’ve inspired many, and as a nation, Spain has always shown great appreciation and enthusiasm for the sport of tennis.”
A former No. 1, Sanchez-Vicario was one of the most dominant women of the ‘90s. In ‘89, at the age of 17, she became the first Spanish woman to capture a major title when she defeated Steffi Graf at the French Open. She went on to win a remarkable 14 majors in singles and doubles, as well as an Olympic silver and bronze medal. She was a member of four championship Fed Cup teams, and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in ‘07.
Known for his clay-court skill set, Santana’s success kept him in the national spotlight throughout his career. In ‘65, he led Spain to a 4-1 upset over the U.S. in Davis Cup, in a campaign that resulted in Spain making it to their first-ever final. Two years later, he drove Spain to the final once again, and earned the nation’s only point, by defeating John Newcombe. In ‘66, he became the first Spaniard to win Wimbledon. In total, he won five majors and was ranked inside the top 10 for seven years, rising to No. 1 in ‘66. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in ‘84.
In the ‘60s and early ‘70s, Gimeno cracked the top 10 on several occasions. In ‘72, he captured the French Open at age 34. To this day, he remains RG’s oldest champion. He was honored with Hall of Fame induction in ‘09.
