"Australia is a country I have a very special affection for. For many years, I spent Christmas there preparing for the Grand Slam"

Think back to another era in women’s tennis: Navratilova, Evert, Seles, Graf, and not forgetting a Spaniard who reached World Number 1 in Singles and Doubles and departed professional tennis with a glittering resume.

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario was also a two-time Australian Open finalist in 1994 and 1995, and famously known for her fierce tenacity, tireless defensive baseline play and legendary fighting spirit.

She got the nickname the Barcelona Bumblebee” for her relentless speed, energy and refusal to give up on a point; she chased down almost every ball that earned her four Grand Slam Singles titles, six Grand Slam Women’s Doubles titles and four Grand Slam Mixed Doubles titles.

The weekend just gone, the now 54-year-old made an appearance at a pickleball event at Carlos Alcaraz’s own home club and academy in Murcia, Spain, headlining the 19th Decyde Talks, “LA BOLA IMPOSIBLE” (“The Impossible Ball”)

On Saturday, the “Arantxa Pickleball Show”, took place bringing a tennis legend into a growing racket-sport community with exhibition play, and a clinic.

The First Serve was able to chat to Arantxa remotely.

How is Arantxa Sánchez Vicario today? What does your everyday life look like, and what role does sport still play in it?

My life is that of a mother of two teenagers, a committed woman of today who has to fight on several fronts. And sport is extremely important. It helps me with all of that.

Australia holds a special place in your career. You reached three Australian Open singles finals and won women’s and mixed doubles titles there. What are your fondest memories of the country and its tennis fans?

I have always been warmly welcomed there. Australia is a country I have a very special affection for, partly because, for many years, I spent Christmas there while preparing for the Grand Slam.

You became known for using a distinctive clip to hold tennis balls during matches. How did that idea come about, and what advantages did it offer?

I don’t remember whose idea it originally was. I know I used it for some time. At first, it was something new and became fashionable, but it was eventually abandoned for various reasons, including the aesthetics of tennis clothing and, consequently, its practicality.

You competed against an extraordinary generation, including Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Gabriela Sabatini and Martina Navratilova. How would you compare the standard of women’s tennis then with today’s game?

They are different eras of the sport. There were exceptional players then, but there are exceptional players now, too. The equipment is certainly very different and of much better quality. And nowadays every player has an extraordinary team behind them. I couldn’t say whether the standard back then was better or worse than it is today.

To know that, we would have to go back and forth in time, using today’s methods and equipment in that era and bringing the players of that time into today’s game. That’s impossible, so the question will always remain unanswered.

Which players on today’s women’s tour particularly impress you? Who do you think could define an era?

There are several, and they are very good. As I’ve said, I follow them, but I wouldn’t feel it was fair to name names because I might leave someone out.

What led you to discover pickleball, and what has your experience of playing it been like? What could tennis learn from this sport when it comes to attracting new audiences?

Well, it happened by chance. The terrible pandemic we experienced around the world made this sport popular, especially in the United States. I’ve since discovered that every member of a family can play it if they wish, regardless of age, within certain limits. It’s a fast sport that requires technique and quick reflexes. At professional level, it’s extremely demanding. In short, it’s a sport that is now firmly established and has a long future ahead of it.

How did you experience the transition away from professional tennis? What has mattered most in building a new life and finding other ways to enjoy sport?

As I said earlier, my children. Raising them and supporting them through such an important stage of their lives has been, and still is, what matters most to me since leaving tennis. Building my life — or rather, rebuilding it — hasn’t always been easy, particularly for reasons unrelated to sport. But those difficult times are gradually becoming part of the past, allowing me to focus on caring for my children. And, of course, I enjoy pickleball with the same enthusiasm and competitive spirit I’ve always had.

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