Former Wimbledon finalist and 14-time grand slam winner faces legal turmoil

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, renowned in the tennis world for her 14 Grand Slam victories, has been handed a two-year suspended prison sentence for fraud following a court ruling in Barcelona. The 52-year-old tennis legend will not serve jail time as she has agreed to pay €6.6 million (£5.6 million) in debts.

The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, stems from a series of legal battles dating back to 2009, involving tax evasion and fraud allegations against Sanchez Vicario. Her ex-husband, Josep Santacana, who divorced her in 2019, also received a prison sentence of three years and three months. The charges relate to accusations of hiding assets to evade a multi-million-pound debt owed to the Bank of Luxembourg.

Sanchez Vicario’s avoidance of prison time is attributed to her agreement to pay reparations. The court noted that she “at all times had sufficient assets to cover the debt” but opted for a shorter sentence because she “assumed her responsibility for the facts.” The tennis star’s ex-husband faces a more extended prison term, suggesting a shared responsibility for the alleged financial mismanagement.

During court proceedings in September, Sanchez Vicario placed the blame on Santacana, stating, “I did what he told me to do because I am a tennis player; I have no knowledge of assets or companies or anything. I trusted my husband.” Despite her claims, the judge refused to acquit her, asserting that she “had full knowledge of what was being done with her assets.”

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario’s legacy in tennis is substantial, having clinched 14 Grand Slam titles, including four in singles. Notable victories include the French Open in 1989, 1994, and 1998, as well as the US Open in 1994. Despite narrowly missing Wimbledon and Australian Open singles titles on multiple occasions, she enjoyed success in doubles and mixed doubles, contributing significantly to Spain’s success in the Billie Jean King Cup and securing four Olympic medals across singles and doubles.