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Tennis Legend Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Now Faces Fraud Charges and Jail Time; Here's Her Net Worth

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, a former world No. 1 tennis player, boasts an impressive career with multiple Grand Slam titles. However, despite her on-court earnings, she currently has a net worth of $0.

BY SAHIB PREET SINGH

PUBLISHED OCT 24, 2023

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain at the French Open Tennis Championship on 8 June 1996 | Getty Images | Photo by Gary M. Prior

Name	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Net Worth	$0
Sources of Income	Tennis
Gender	Female
Date of Birth	Dec 18, 1971
Age	51 years
Nationality	Spanish
Profession	Tennis player

Once hailed as a legend in women's tennis and inducted into the Hall of Fame, retired Spanish player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario's fall from grace has also left her broke with a $0 net worth, as she faces a jail term. Despite an entire fortune and reputation earned through winning grand slams and raking in prize money as well as sponsorships, the former World number 1 is now on trial with her husband, for fraudulently hiding assets to avoid paying a debt of more than $8 million. She won four Olympic medals during her career, which started with her first grand slam at the young age of 15. Sanchez had emerged as a prodigy early on because she had been playing tennis since the age of four. Just three years after her debut, she won the French Open Singles for the first time. She retired as a legend in 2000, but today prosecutors are asking for four years in prison for the sports star.

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario during the Women’s Singles Final match between Iga Swiatek of Poland and Ons Jabeur of Tunisia | Getty Images | Photo by Matthew Stockman

What were Arantxa Sanchez Vicario's sources of income?

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario's main source of revenue primarily stemmed from her illustrious tennis career, as she accumulated substantial earnings through tournament prize money. She secured victory in 29 singles titles, including triumphant performances at three French Opens and a US Open. In addition to her singles accomplishments, she excelled as a doubles player, amassing an impressive total of 69 career titles, which included three Australian Opens, a Wimbledon win, and a US Open triumph. But despite amassing a fortune, long before the fraud charges were leveled against her, Sanchez had accused her parents of losing $60 million of her earnings.

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain poses for a portrait before the ATP Lipton International Players Championship 1995 | Getty Images | Photo by Clive Brunskill

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario's salary

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario earned a remarkable $17.7 million through her on-court performances throughout her tennis career. This substantial sum secured her a position as the 22nd highest-earning female tennis player in history, only to be surpassed by Naomi Osaka, who achieved this milestone on September 13, 2020.

Real estate and other assets

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario's asset portfolio has multiple properties, including a residence in Barcelona and a villa located in Miami. In 2018, she decided to sell her Miami property for an asking price of $5.4 million.

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario during Fed Cup BNP Paribas World Cup at Centro de Tenis La Manga | Getty Images | Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno

Personal life

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario was born in Barcelona, Spain, in December 1971. She hails from a family deeply entrenched in the world of tennis. Her father, Emilio Sánchez, and her older brothers, Emilio and Javier, were all professional tennis players. Sánchez was married to her former coach, Joan Vehils, but the marriage ended in divorce. In 2008, she wed Josep Santacana, and the couple had a daughter named Arantxa in 2009. However, her second marriage also faced difficulties, and she is currently facing a fraud lawsuit along with her husband related to financial matters. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario has been entangled in multiple legal battles, primarily revolving around allegations of tax evasion and fraud. In 2009, she was found guilty of tax evasion and in 2015, Banque de Luxembourg lodged a complaint against her, citing credit and property fraud amounting to $5.2 million, though the funds could not be recovered. The legal saga continued in 2018 when Sánchez Vicario faced fresh fraud charges for intentionally misrepresenting her financial arrangements in the previous case.

Awards and recognition

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario's tennis career was marked by numerous accolades, including four Grand Slam singles titles, six doubles titles, and four mixed doubles titles, in addition to four Olympic medals and five Federation Cup titles with the Spanish team and her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.

FAQs

Did Arantxa Sánchez Vicario have any notable tennis rivalries?

Yes, she had intense rivalries with Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, contributing to the excitement around women's tennis during that era.

What is Arantxa Sánchez Vicario doing now?

Following her tennis career, she engaged in charity work, and occasional exhibition matches, and served as a tennis commentator and analyst.

Did Arantxa Sánchez Vicario participate in the Olympics and win any medals?

Yes, she competed in the Olympics and earned four medals: one gold, two silver, and one bronze.