'I trusted him': How former World No. 1 tennis icon Arantxa Sanchez Vicario went penniless after an alleged $60 million betrayal

Former World No. 1 Spanish tennis star Arantxa Sanchez Vicario has opened up about the financial collapse that left the four-time Grand Slam champion without the estimated $60 million fortune she earned during her illustrious career. Once among the highest-paid players in women's tennis, Sanchez Vicario says she is still trying to rebuild her life after losing her wealth in a saga that led to years of legal and financial troubles. Speaking on the Spanish television show 'Universo Calleja', as reported by nine.com.au, the 54-year-old said her wealth had 'vanished' and blamed her former husband, Josep Santacana, for the family's financial downfall.

"I trusted him because he was the father of my children," Sanchez Vicario said as quoted by the outlet.

Sanchez Vicario and Santacana, who were married from 2008 until their separation in 2019 and share two children, became the focus of criminal proceedings in Spain over allegations that assets were concealed to avoid repaying a multimillion-dollar debt owed to a Luxembourg bank (Banque de Luxembourg). Prosecutors sought a prison sentence, but in 2024 a Barcelona court handed Sanchez Vicario a two-year suspended sentence, meaning she avoided serving time in jail provided she complied with the court's conditions.


"I fell blindly in love... he really isn’t the person I thought he was. I focused on playing tennis and never handled my own financial affairs because I didn’t know how.

"I trusted my husband... and the money vanished. I was left to shoulder the entire burden."

The former tennis star told the court that although she had earned an estimated $60 million during her playing career, she no longer had access to that wealth and had relied on financial help from friends. She also admitted she feared being sent to prison and said she accepted the court's requirement to use 50 percent of her future income to help repay the outstanding debt, reported to be around $11 million.

"I did not go to jail because I am paying 50 per cent of my earnings to the bank," Sanchez Vicario said as quoted by The Sun.

"I am complying when deep down I was a victim," she added.

One of Spain's greatest tennis players, Sánchez Vicario captured four Grand Slam singles titles, including three French Open championships and the 1994 US Open. She first won Roland-Garros in 1989 at just 17 years old before adding two more titles in 1994 and 1998. She also reached multiple Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

Presently, Sanchez Vicario is rebuilding her life by working as a tennis coach in the United States while continuing to meet her financial obligations under the court's ruling.