Arantxa, grateful and excited about the Príncipe de Asturias Award

3/8/98

The Spanish tennisplayer Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, who was awarded the Príncipe de Asturias for Sport Award, said she felt very happy, grateful and excited about the honour that the jury had brought to her. They decided the maximum award given to a sportsperson. “I don’t have words to express how grateful and excited I am, because it has really made me very happy”

Arantxa confirmed that her phone rang at 6.30 a.m and the one who spoke to her was Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the IOC, who gave her the good news and congrstulated her “It was the most wonderful awakening that I’ve ever had and it’s a very special day for me for everything that has happened to me” said Sánchez Vicario.

“Winning the Príncipe de Asturias Award is something that every Spanish sportspeople dream for in Spain”

These news motivated her to play in the second round against the Colombian Fabiola Zuluaga, a ‘promise’ for the Colombian tennis. Arantxa recognised that she didn’t lose the concentration to win her by 6-3, 6-2 after 1 h 10 minutes on the old Central Court of Flushing Meadows.

“This award has given me more strength and spirit of fight to try to end this day with a double triumph and motivation to be in this Open”

The Roland Garros champion said that she knew she was nominated (as in the last years), but she didn’t think she was going to get the award.

“I think that in 1994, when I won the Open, it was the great year for the Spanish tennis (women) and I thought that I had more chances of getting it, but I didn’t get it and now there were candidates with a great career, such as Michael Jordan” said Sánchez Vicario. “Honestly, I must say that it has been a great surprise for me”

Sánchez Vicario admited that the fact of being finalist compensated and made her happy, but when Samaranch gave her the news, she woke up immediately and the day began to have a very special meaning in her life. “ I just have words of gratefulness for everyone who has believed in me, and has recognised what I’ve done for the Spanish tennis, and having received this award when I expected it the least, has excited me a lot” said Arantxa.
The three times champion in Roland Garros said that after winning this award she has reached the top of her career. “Honestly, I was sure that maybe I would get this award after my retirement, and it hasn’t been that way. For me, my goals as professional are achieved, but I’ll try to fight as much as possible in this Open” said the ex -champion of the US Open.
Sánchez Vicario, 26 y.o., was again the centre of attention in Flushing Meadows after explaining to the international press how important this award was. “ I have reached the top with this award and also my goal is to win another Grand Slam, I feel that my dreams came true” said the tennisplayer.
Sánchez Vicario, saying that she was very happy, said that she would receive this award personally and this money would be given to the Fundación Sánchez Vicario to help children to play tennis. “Besides the award, what has excited me is that many positive things about me have been said and about what I have reached in my professional career. I’ve been the youngest person to receive this award as well”
Sánchez Vicario also became the third woman to get this award (after the American Martina Navratilova an the Algerian Hassiba Boulmerka)
“For everything I think that this has been a historic day, which I honestly didn’t expect to live, at least as an active player, maybe retired”, added Sánchez Vicario with a nervous smile. “Definitely, this is a dream made true”