Arantxa Sánchez Vicario’s Financial Struggles

Once celebrated as the world’s top-ranked tennis player, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario now finds herself without financial resources after her ex-husband depleted her $41 million fortune, a claim she firmly supports.

“I was so focused on my tennis career that I left the financial side to my husband—without really knowing how to manage it myself. I trusted him completely, and now… well, it’s all gone,” Sánchez Vicario explained recently on the Spanish television show Universo Callejo.

In January 2024, Sánchez Vicario and her former spouse, Josep Santacana, were convicted of fraud for allegedly hiding assets to evade significant debts owed to a Luxembourg bank.

Interestingly, she characterizes herself as a “victim” in this situation, stating that Santacana has avoided prison by contributing half of his income “to the bank.” She reiterated similar sentiments during her trial.

“I just want the truth to come out and for this ordeal to end,” Santacana told the press amid the proceedings.

Initially sentenced to two years in prison, Sánchez Vicario’s sentence was suspended after she committed to repaying her debts.

However, this isn’t her first brush with financial issues. Back in 2009, the Supreme Court imposed a $5.9 million penalty on her for tax evasion.

The ruling related to 1989 through 1993, during which time Sánchez Vicario claimed residency in Andorra, a claim the court deemed false.

While she managed to dodge jail time, she’s currently making amends with the bank. Santacana, on the other hand, received a sentence of three years and three months.

The 54-year-old former pro maintains that she was unaware of any financial mismanagement, attributing all monetary decision-making to her ex-husband. The two parted ways in 2019.

Retired since 2002, Sánchez Vicario was married to Santacana from 2008 to 2019 and the couple shares both a son and a daughter. A prominent figure in the 1990s tennis scene, she ascended to the number one spot in 1994 after winning the French Open and the US Open.

Her accolades also include two more French Open titles in 1989 and 1998, achieving her first victory at only 17 years old.

Additionally, Sánchez Vicario earned silver and bronze medals in singles and doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and secured another set of medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, representing Spain at five Olympiads in total.

Despite her numerous achievements, Sánchez Vicario now faces significant financial setbacks stemming from her tennis career.