Tennis: Goodbye to teacher Santana

Manolo Santana, pioneer and legend of Spanish tennis, was born on May 10, 1938 into a humble family, he started as a ball boy at the Velázquez Club at the age of 10. With the support of the Álvaro Romero-Girón family, he was able to receive studies and continue playing tennis.

His first triumph in an important tournament was the 1958 Spanish Championship but he would not stay in one but he would win it up to seven more times (1960-61-62-63-64-68-69.)

Manolo Santana and Nicola pietrangeli finalists in 1961 at Roland Garros. Manolo Santana won both times they met in the final of Roland Garros in 1961 and 64

In 1963 he won Roland Garros in the doubles category, teaming up with the Australian Roy Emerson.

In 1965 Manolo Santana wins the United States Open. In the image he appears with Robert Kennedy with the Trophy.

Manolo Santana lifting the 1965 US Open winner’s trophy

He conquered Wimbledon wearing a Real Madrid crest on his white polo shirt

On July 1, 1966, one of the great myths of Spanish sport such as Manolo Santana managed to conquer the Wimbledon tournament on the sacred grass of the All England Club, perhaps the most prestigious in the world, a final in which he defeated the American giant Dennis Ralston. Santana had given up participating that year at Roland Garros to spend several weeks training on the grass in London and preparing thoroughly. His perseverance was rewarded. In addition, he won the affection of European tennis players as it had been twelve years since no European player emerged victorious at Wimbledon.

He received the Wimbledon winner’s trophy in 1966 from the hands of Princess Marina of Kent, at which time an anecdote that has gone down in history occurred, Manolo Santana kissed the hand of the Princess believing that it was the right thing, without knowing that it was out of protocol.

From 1961 to 1967 he remained among the top ten in world tennis, reaching the peak of his career in 1966 when he was proclaimed number one in the world.

Manolo Santana was proclaimed winner of the Conde de Godó Trophy in 1962 and 1970

Manolo Santana and José Luis Arilla taken on their shoulders after a doubles match.

Juan Antonio Samarach presenting a trophy to Manolo Santana. Samaranch would become an important figure in Santana’s sports career by winning a contract for what would now be an image contract and thus ensuring income that would allow Santana to continue being an amateur tennis player which allowed him to play Davis and win Wimbledon.

Manolo Santana upon his arrival in 1968 after winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Mexico, where tennis participated as an exhibition sport

The triumphs of Manolo Santana, managed to popularize tennis, which until the 60s was a great unknown and an elitist sport

Manolo Santana with Lilí Álvarez pioneer in Spanish women’s tennis

Manolo Santana and Manolo Orantes were doubles pair in the Davis Cup tie between Spain and England played in Barcelona.

Manolo Santana and Breitner

Santana played the Davis Cup final twice in 1965 with Joan Gisbert, José Luis Arilla and Juan Manuel Couder and in 1967 with Arilla, Gisbert and Orantes, on both occasions they were defeated in the grass of Australia by the same result: 4-1.

In 1967 Spain reached the final of the Davis Cup. In the image, Manolo Santana and Orantes pose with Roy Emerson and John Newcombe of the Australian team, the Australians won again in the final as it would already happen in 1965

Manolo has played with the Davis Cup Team a total of 119 games. In singles he won 69 of 85 games, and in doubles he won 24 of 34.

He was Captain of the Spanish Davis Cup team for 8 years. From 1.980 –1.984 and from 1.995 – 1.999 in the image together with Emilio Sánchez Vicario and Sergio Casal

Davis Cup captain Manolo Santana congratulates Alex Corretja after he defeated Marc Rosset of Switzerland in the second Davis Cup quarter-final singles match

Manolo Santana captain of the Davis Cup with tennis players Carlos Moyá, Albert Costa, Tomás Carbonell and Alex Corretja.

Manolo Santana with Santiago Bernabéu during his tribute

Manolo Santana on the day of his tribute

Tribute to the Davis Cup finalists on the 31st anniversary of the last final in 1967. Arilla, Manolo Santana, Orantes and Gisbert.

For several years he has played Senior Tournaments all over the world. In 2000 he won the Roland Garros doubles, forming a partnership with the American Stan Smith.

Manolo Santana and Bjorg

Manolo Santana with Nadal and Federer at the 2009 Madrid Open

Manolo is Director of the Masters Series Madrid (Mutua Madrileña), one of the most prestigious tennis events in the world. Tournament Director since its inception, 2002, of the Masters Series Madrid (Mutua Madrileña), one of the most prestigious tennis events in the world. Since 2008 Open Madrid Mutua Madrileña, held at the Caja Mágica.

Manolo Santana in the newsroom of Diario AS

Manolo Santana in February 2020, rallying at the club that bears his name.