Arantxa Sanchez Vicario receives Philippe Chatrier Award

IC Spain member Arantxa Sanchez Vicario has been presented with the Philippe Chatrier Award from the International Tennis Federation in recognition of her achievements in tennis, as well as being the sports’ greatest Fed Cup and Olympic ambassador.

The award was given at the ITF’s annual official dinner, held during the second week of the French Open.

The Spaniard was just 17 when she won her first Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, and went on to capture two more Roland Garros titles, in 1994 and 1998, and the 1994 US Open. She also won six Grand Slam women’s doubles and four mixed doubles titles.

Sanchez Vicario became the first Spanish player in history be ranked No. 1 when she reached the top spot in February 1995. She also became only the second woman after Martina Navratilova to reach No. 1 in singles and doubles at the same time. The Spaniard won a total of 29 singles and 69 career doubles titles.

In Fed Cup, Sanchez Vicario holds the record for the most total wins by any player. Alongside Conchita Martinez, she led Spain to five Fed Cup titles, in 1991, 1993-95 and 1998, and to five other finals. She won 72 singles and doubles matches in 58 ties during a 15-year span.

As an Olympian, Sanchez Vicario is the only female tennis player to compete in five Olympic Games and has won four medals: singles bronze and doubles silver at Barcelona 1992, and singles silver and doubles bronze at Atlanta 1996.

Now a mother of two, Sanchez Vicario has been involved in the charity Fundacion SOS, helping children in Africa, since her retirement in 2005. She returned to tennis at the start of 2012 as Spain’s new Fed Cup captain.