50 Years Young: A look at Arantxa Sanchez Vicario's colorfully-decorated career 

It was an early spring morning in the Southern California desert. The prominent coach and former Top 10 pro Jose Higueras had a full day ahead, in this case one where he was set to work with a group of juniors. As Higueras looked out into the San Jacinto mountains, he recalled the advice of his fellow Spaniard, Manuel Santana. Said Higueras, “Manolo told me to squeeze every last drop. Play as much as possible. You dedicate your life to tennis, so bring all you can to it.”

Were Higueras asked to provide an example of a fellow pro who did just that, he’d find an excellent example in his compatriot, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Born 50 years ago today, Sanchez Vicario had a brilliant career, highlighted by four Grand Slam singles titles – three at Roland Garros, one at the US Open – and 12 weeks ranked No. 1 in the world. Nicknamed “The Barcelona Bumblebee” by famed journalist Bud Collins, Sanchez Vicario stung her opponents with footspeed, consistency, tenacity and tactical acumen. That Sanchez Vicario was usually up against a taller and more powerful player also made her a frequent fan favorite.

Similar to fellow Hall of Famer Tracy Austin, Sanchez Vicario was the youngest child of a large, tennis-playing family. Sanchez Vicario’s brothers, Emilio and Javier, competed extensively on the pro tour, Emilio rising as high as seven in the world in singles, Javier advancing to 23. Her older sister, Marisa, was also an excellent player, lettering at Pepperdine University.

Extremely tenacious, young Aranxta was driven to compete alongside her older siblings. She spent many days tagging alongside them, while also honing her skills for hours hitting against a backboard. In time, Sanchez Vicario became good enough to train with another crafty Spanish Hall of Fame inductee, 1975 US Open champion Manuel Orantes. As you’d expect from a Spanish player, Sanchez Vicario was initially most comfortable on clay. In her Grand Slam debut, the 1987 French Open, the 15-year-old Sanchez Vicario went all the way to the quarterfinals. A year later she beat seven-time Roland Garros champion Chris Evert and again reached the last eight.

But no one could have foreseen what was to come in 1989. Seeded seventh that year at Roland Garros, Sanchez Vicario reached the finals versus the mighty Stefanie Graf who had won the last five majors. You might need more than one Fitbit to measure how many miles Sanchez Vicario covered tracking one Graf shot after another. In the first set, Sanchez Vicario fought off two set points to win it in a tiebreaker. In the third, Graf served for the title at 5-3, but Sanchez Vicario broke back at love and ended up winning the match, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-5. “She really played a great match,” said Graf. “She's one of the people who just enjoys it; she's just a great person, and so I feel good for her.”

Five years later, Sanchez Vicario won her second title at Roland Garros. This time she took down another powerhouse, Mary Pierce, who in six prior matches that year in Paris had lost only ten games, including a 6-2, 6-2 win over Graf in the semis. Once again, though, Sanchez Vicario turned her opponent’s power back on her, beating Pierce, 6-4, 6-4.

Later in 1994, Sanchez Vicario proved herself more than a clay-court specialist when she upset Graf in the US Open final by the most unusual score of 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4.  “It is the happiest day of my life and my biggest win,” said Sanchez Vicario. Several months later, shortly after reaching the finals of the ’95 Australian Open, Sanchez Vicario earned the No.1 ranking.

Her final Grand Slam singles victory came in 1998. It was yet another case of Sanchez Vicario flying in under the radar, the screen that year far more focused on the youthful hopes of Martina Hingis and the emotional appeal of a Monica Seles title run, Seles having lost her father just weeks prior to the tournament. But versus Seles in the finals, Sanchez Vicario did what she did best – run, grind and think, an exemplary demonstration of Billie Jean King’s notion that persistence is also a talent. In the end, another win, again by a remarkable score – 7-6 (5), 0-6, 6-2.

Sanchez Vicario also reached another eight Grand Slam singles finals – twice at the Australian Open (’94-’95), three times at Roland Garros (’91, ’95-’96), twice at Wimbledon (’95-’96), once at the US Open (’91). Most notable was the ’95 Wimbledon final, Sanchez Vicario losing to Graf, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. At 5-all in the third set, Sanchez Vicario served a game that lasted 20 minutes, 32 points and 13 deuces. But in the end, Graf broke serve and closed out the match.

All told, Sanchez Vicario won 29 singles titles and 69 in doubles (six majors), attaining the number one ranking in both areas. She also earned four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles with three different partners (but none with her brothers). Sanchez Vicario was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007. Her trademark quote: “I am confident. I never give up.”

Since her playing days ended, Sanchez Vicario has faced many challenges involving complicated marriages and family matters, as well as financial and legal troubles. One hopes she in time will resolve them.