The former tennis player Manolo santana He died this Saturday in Marbella at the age of 83, reports the Mutua Madrid Open, a tournament of which he was honorary president.
Santana, one of the greatest athletes in the history of Spanish sport, with four Grand Slam titles In his record, he has died in Marbella, where he had established his habitual residence.
Santana began his love affair with tennis as a ball boy at the Velázquez Tennis Club, where he caught the attention of its leaders and began to train as a professional tennis player.
His first ‘big’ fell on the Parisian clay of Roland Garros in 1961 against the Italian Nicola Pietrangeli, before re-recording his name in the ‘Cup of the Musketeers’ also in 1964 and against the same rival.
Just a year later, in 1965, he became the first European to lift the US Open since Henri Cochet did it in 1928, all after beating South African Cliff Drysdale in the final.
His ‘Grand Slam’ record was rounded off with the 1966 Wimbledon victory against American Dennis Ralston, ending twelve years of European drought on the grass of London.
After his retirement in 1980, the Madrilenian continued linked to tennis as a coach.
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