Spanish tennis legends Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Andres Gimeno and Manolo Santana have been presented with a special ring to recognise their status as members to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Chris Clouser, Chairman of the International Hall of Fame and Mark Stenning Chief Executive Officer travelled from Newport to attend the ceremony, which was held at the Barcelona Open BancSabadell. Also on hand were the current President of the tournament’s host club, the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona-1899, Albert Agustí, Honorary President and Member of the Executive Committee of the Hall of Fame, Juan Mª Tintoré and Tournament Director Albert Costa, alongside fellow Hall of Famer Roy Emerson.
«Arantxa, Andres and Manolo have won the most coveted titles in tennis and have achieved rankings among the best players in the sport, while serving as ambassadors for tennis worldwide. They have inspired many, and as a nation, Spain has always shown great appreciation and enthusiasm for the sport of tennis. We are very pleased to recognize their contributions during this important Spanish tournament,» said Clouser. «As Hall of Famers, Arantxa, Andres and Manolo are among an elite group of athletes and contributors. We are pleased to be able to recognize this achievement with this special ring, which only the most successful and influential individuals in tennis will have the honor of wearing.»
The event marked the first time that the Hall of Fame has performed such a ceremony outside of the United States.
