In an interview with El Pais, former world No. 1 and Barcelona tournament director Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario says that today's WTA is much different than it was when she played in the 1990s.
"We had eight or 10 players who always had an extreme rivalry," she said. "And to be number one, or winning a Grand Slam or two, that just didn't come. Now everything is much more open. You can be number one without being a great champion. There is a lot more power in the game, but it lacks variety. If you ask people, they know names of the Williams sisters or Clijsters and Henin, but don't ask them to tell you the name of the number one." Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki is the current No. 1.
Sanchez-Vicario also said that she enjoyed 1990s tennis than she does today's version. "There was more variety, players with different games, stronger minds, more character,” she said." I played with three generations and they evolved. I had to adapt. It's the same now. If you want to compete in today's game you have to play a much more physical and more power than before.”?
Sanchez added that she thinks that Spanish men’s tennis is "awesome" these days, but the Spanish women are in a difficult spot. "All they do is compared to what Conchita [Martinez] and I did," she said. "They do not have it easy. But they need our support."—Matthew Cronin