Following his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame last summer, Spanish tennis legend Manuel Orantes was presented with his official Hall of Fame ring at a special ceremony held at the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona-1899 during the recent Barcelona Open BancSabadell ATP event.
Orantes’ contribution to the sport throughout his career was massive. He reached a career high of #2 in the ATP rankings, winning the US Open title in 1975 after reaching the Roland Garros final the previous year. He was a stalwart of the Spanish Davis Cup team, establishing a 60-27 win/loss record. Overall he won 33 singles and 22 doubles titles in a 13-year period that stretched from his first win in Barcelona in 1969 to his final title in Bournemouth in 1982.
Receiving the ring, Orantes remarked, «I am really honoured to be recognized by the International Hall of Fame, and to receive this ring; this is truly one of the most special days of my life.»
Orantes becomes the fourth Spanish player to be presented with the Hall of Fame ring, joining Andrés Gimeno, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and Manuel Santana.
International Tennis Hall of Fame President Stan Smith travelled to Barcelona to present the ring, and paid tribute to Orantes’ reputation as one of the sport’s kindest and fairest players.
Mr. Smith also used his trip to Europe to announce the launch of a special International Tennis Hall of Fame exhibition which is due to be held at the Museu Olimpic i de l’Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch in Barcelona throughout the first quarter of 2014. Entitled ‘Tennis and the Olympics’, the exhibition will offer a retrospective of some of the landmark moments of the sport at the Olympics, as well as examining the sport’s wider role at the Games, including the Paralympics.
“Tennis is one of the world’s most international sports, and it has had a rich history within the Olympic movement. We are delighted for this unique opportunity to showcase tennis’ role in the Games for the fans who visit the Olympic and Sports Museum,” said Stan Smith. “The Hall of Fame’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the rich history of tennis, and we are grateful to the Olympic and Sports Museum of Barcelona for helping us to share this important part of tennis history with an international audience. It is a great step for us to elevate international awareness for our mission, and it is an honor for me to be here today to share this exciting news.”
