Former world No. 1 tennis player Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and her ex-husband, Josep Santacana, have been convicted of fraud in Spain. The ruling comes after the couple was found guilty of concealing assets in an attempt to avoid substantial debts owed to the Banque de Luxembourg.

Sánchez-Vicario, a renowned Barcelona-born tennis player and four-time Grand Slam singles champion, managed to avoid a jail sentence. However, her ex-husband, Santacana, has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison.

The 52-year-old athlete, who retired from professional tennis in 2002, received a two-year sentence initially. However, the sentence was waived as she is a first-time offender and has agreed to repay her debts to the bank.

Throughout the legal proceedings, both Sánchez-Vicario and Santacana maintained their innocence. Sánchez-Vicario claimed that Santacana was responsible for handling her finances and that she had no knowledge of any illegal activities taking place.

The Spanish court, however, concluded that while Sánchez-Vicario may not have had the financial expertise to manipulate their assets, she was fully aware of the situation and benefited from it. The court noted that she was well aware of the debt owed to Banque de Luxembourg.

In 2023, Sánchez-Vicario reportedly struck a deal with prosecutors, admitting to the charges in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Recently, the former tennis star was seen leaving the court in Barcelona on September 12, surrounded by media attention. Just two months later, she made a public appearance at the Billie Jean King Cup semifinal match between Canada and Czechia, held at Estadio de La Cartuja in Spain on November 11. Sánchez-Vicario joined tennis icon Billie Jean King and former Spanish pro Conchita Martinez on the court.

Sánchez-Vicario's illustrious tennis career includes being ranked as the World No. 1 player in 1995. She has secured victories at prestigious tournaments such as the U.S. Open in 1994, where she claimed her second French Open title in the same year. Additionally, she triumphed at the French Open in 1989 and 1998.

Furthermore, Sánchez-Vicario has showcased her skills at the Olympics, earning silver and bronze medals in both women's singles and doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as well as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

While this legal conviction marks a challenging chapter in Sánchez-Vicario's life, her contributions to the world of tennis and her notable achievements on the court remain an integral part of her legacy.