ITF

18 Spring 2020 ITF World PHILIPPE CHATRIER AWARD "Achieving this was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life," said Santana. "I overcame Nicola Pietrangeli, who was one of the best tennis players in the world and one of my best friends. "I also did it for my country. People in Spain did not know whether tennis balls were round or square. I had the opportunity to play for Spain all over the world, so that's how the passion for the sport started. That was when the Spanish began to learn about tennis. After that, everybody became interested." If the fascination of the country's new band of tennis fans was linked to Santana's success then their knowledge and enthusiasm was to surge in the proceeding years as Santana underwent something of a silverware splurge. Three years after this maiden success, Santana was back in the final in Paris and once again he defeated Pietrangeli, while a little over 12 months later he achieved the "unimaginable" by winning the US title on the grass of Forest Hills. He was the first European to do so since Frenchman Henri Cochet in 1928. Also in 1965, Santana led Spain to the Davis Cup Final, the first of three runners-up finishes in his career. En route to the final, he spearheaded a stunning victory over USA in Barcelona which resulted in him being showered with cushions (a bullfighting symbol of approval) and carried from the court on the shoulders of ecstatic fans. Santana holds a host of Davis Cup records for Spain and remains the player with the most total wins, singles victories, doubles triumphs and ties under his belt, while the 14 years during which he represented his nation is equalled only by Sergio Casal and Manuel Orantes. "Davis Cup is the most beautiful competition and most representative of sport," said Santana. "The emotion and dedication of players to defend their country makes it the only competition that humanises people, and that is a huge positive." While all his titles were significant, it has been suggested, and hinted at by Santana himself, that they were mere staging posts as he plotted a course to the defining moment of his career – lifting the men's singles title at Wimbledon in the summer of 1966. After two five-setters in the quarters and semis, opportunity knocked for Santana and he duly claimed victory at "the cathedral" by overpowering American Dennis Ralston in straight sets. Until Rafael Nadal in 2008, Santana remained the only Spaniard to taste victory at SW19. "It was every tennis player's dream and I worked so hard to win it," said Santana. "Wimbledon was a huge dream of mine from a young age. To turn it into a reality and to have won this great Slam, I felt I had my greatest treasure. It will always be something I carry with me. "This was the biggest of the four Slams and the one all players wanted to win. That is why I feel sorry for great players such as Ken Rosewall, Ilie Nastase and Ivan Lendl who never won Wimbledon. I am so happy that I did." Other chapters were still to be written, such as winning gold in the singles and silver in the doubles as tennis was included as a demonstration sport at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Following a legendary career, Santana called time on his playing days in 1980 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame four years later. Post-retirement, he has twice captained Spain's Davis Cup team, became the long-standing Director of the Madrid Open and established Manolo Santana Rackets Club in Marbella and the Sport Centre Manolo Santana in Madrid. " It is lovely to win it alongside Fred [Stolle]. Before we were rivals, we were friends. Our friendship endures." Santana has also been a reference point for the likes of Nadal and all Spanish players, mentoring them and being a consistent source of inspiration, all of which has contributed to him being recognised with the Philippe Chatrier Award. "It is a great honour to receive this award at this stage of my life as it is recognition for my 82 years dedicated to tennis," he said. "It is lovely to win it alongside Fred [Stolle]. Before we were rivals, we were friends. Our friendship endures. "Overall, I am proud and happy knowing that all the pain and perseverance was worthwhile. People still say, 'Santana is tennis and tennis is Santana'. I think my success in those days is one of the big reasons we have so many good players in Spain since then." Looking at his career, all that he achieved and the legacy he forged, few could argue with such a sentiment. n

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