Former World No. 1 tennis player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario claims her $41 million fortune has vanished, alleging her ex-husband, Josep Santacana, is responsible for draining her finances.
Sanchez Vicario stated on a Spanish television show that she entrusted Santacana with managing her financial affairs, as she focused on her tennis career. She asserted that she was left with the financial burden after the money disappeared, according to The Sun.
In January 2024, Sanchez Vicario and Santacana were found guilty of fraud. Court documents indicate the couple allegedly concealed assets to avoid paying significant debts owed to Banque de Luxembourg.
Sanchez Vicario maintains she is a victim in the situation and is currently paying half of her earnings to the bank to avoid jail time. She made similar accusations against Santacana during the trial.
Santacana, when questioned by reporters during the case, expressed his expectation that the truth would prevail and the matter would be resolved. Sanchez Vicario had initially received a two-year suspended sentence, contingent on her repaying the debts.
This is not the first instance of Sanchez Vicario facing financial scrutiny. In 2009, the Supreme Court ordered her to pay a $5.9 million fine for tax fraud. The ruling pertained to the years 1989-1993, during which the court determined Sanchez Vicario resided in Spain, contrary to her claims of being a resident of Andorra.
Sanchez Vicario, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, avoided imprisonment in that case and is currently managing her debt obligations. Santacana, however, received a prison sentence of three years and three months.
The 54-year-old Spanish athlete stated that she was unaware of any financial misconduct, as Santacana handled all monetary matters. The couple divorced in 2019.
Sanchez Vicario and Santacana were married from 2008 to 2019. They have a son and a daughter together.
Sanchez Vicario, who retired from professional tennis in 2002, was a prominent figure in the sport during the 1990s. She reached the World No. 1 ranking after winning the French Open and the U.S. Open in 1994. Her previous French Open titles were in 1989 and 1998, with her first professional title secured at the age of 17.
Her Olympic achievements include silver and bronze medals in both women's singles and doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and similar accolades at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Sanchez Vicario represented Spain in five Olympic Games throughout her career.