Spanish tennis great Arantxa Sánchez Vicario found guilty of fraud but will avoid prison

The Barcelona-based court found that Sánchez Vicario and her former husband had hidden assets in an attempt to avoid paying a multi-million euro debt to Banque de Luxembourg.

ByAssociated Press

Published Jan 17, 2024

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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Former women's No. 1 tennis player Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and her ex-husband have been found guilty of fraud, a Spanish court ruled Wednesday.

The Barcelona-based court found that Sánchez Vicario and her former husband had hidden assets in an attempt to avoid paying a multi-million euro debt to Banque de Luxembourg.

The four-time Grand Slam winner was sentenced to two years of prison time, but she avoided going behind bars since the court waived her sentence as a first-time offender. She reached a deal with prosecutors last year to admit to the accusations in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Her husband, Josep Santacana, received a prison sentence of three years and three months.

The former couple must also pay a fine of 6.6 million euros ($7.1 million).

Sánchez Vicario, 52, won Roland Garros in 1989, 1994, and 1998 and the US Open in 1994.