Sánchez Vicario to Present Winner’s Trophy at French Open

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario will face either Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova at the French Open

No, the 41-year-old retired Spanish tennis star, a former World No. 1, won’t be playing against either player.

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

The four-time Grand Slam champion will present the winner of the women’s final her trophy at the French Open this weekend.

The French Tennis Federation says Sanchez Vicario, who won the French Open three times, will be alongside the organization’s president Jean Gachassin at Roland Garros for the final on Saturday, handing the trophy to either Williams or Sharapova.

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

As a 17-year-old, Sánchez Vicario became the youngest winner of the women’s singles title at the 1989 French Open, defeating then-World No. 1 Steffi Graf in the final. Her record would be broken the following year by Monica Seles, who would win the title at the age of 16.

In addition to her eight Grand Slam singles titles, Sánchez Vicario also has six women’s doubles titles and four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

Sánchez Vicario, who retired in November 2002, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007. She was the first Spanish woman to be inducted.

Orantes Elected to International Tennis Hall of Fame

Rafael Nadal won his first and only U.S. Open title in 2010… But fellow Spaniard Manuel Orantes claimed the U.S. Open crown some 35 years before. And, now he’ll be forever immortalized in Newport, Rhode Island.

The 63-year-old Spanish tennis legend has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the master player category.

Manuel Orantes

Along with winning the 1975 U.S. Open by beating Jimmy Connors in straight sets in the final, Orantes was the runner-up to Bjorn Borg at the 1974 French Open.

Orantes reached No. 2 in the rankings in 1973, and he was in the year-ending top 10 for five consecutive years.

Along with Orantes, this year’s inductees will include former world No. 1 Jennifer Capriati and former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten.

The induction ceremony will be held on July 14, 2012 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.