Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario open to coaching Wozniacki, others
PARIS – More than 25 years after winning the French Open as a 17-year-old, Spaniard Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario says she still gets stopped by fans on the streets of Paris with congratulatory praise.
The former world No. 1 was a three-time winner at Roland Garros, first in 1989 and then again in 1994 and 1998.
Monday she returned to the tournament, announced by the WTA as an ambassador – and legends doubles participant – for October's WTA Finals in Singapore. Martina Navratilova will also be a part of the doubles event.
Sanchez-Vicario, 43, won 29 WTA singles titles and 69 doubles titles, reaching world No. 1 in both categories and winning nearly $17 million in prize money. She spoke to members of the media in a round-table event.
"For me this is a very special place," Sanchez-Vicario said of Roland Garros. "I won here when I was a teenager. I beat Steffi Graf. It's nice to be back here and have those memories. I grew up on the clay and I always wanted to win here. I'm part of history."
Sanchez-Vicario dipped her toe into the choppy tennis waters of coaching recently, brought on by world No. 5 Caroline Wozniacki as a consultant in the lead-up to the clay season. She told Paste BN Sports that the set-up was temporary, and that she'd like to coach Wozniacki or another top player down the road.
"Now that my kids are older, I want to get back (and coach) a little," she said in a one-on-one interview. "It was an opportunity for me to help Caroline before the clay court season. I spoke with her and said that I would prefer to talk again at the end of the season, because I don't believe in starting something in the middle of it."
Navratilova spent a brief stint starting in the off-season as coach to Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2012 Wimbledon finalist. The two ended their partnership in April, however. Lindsay Davenport, the former world No. 1 serves as coach for American Madison Keys, and Amélie Mauresmo, the Frenchwoman, coaches Andy Murray.
"If you want to do something good (with a player), you need to take that time to prepare for what's next," Sanchez-Vicario said. "The middle of the season doesn't work. (Wozniacki and I) are going to talk again at the end of the year. If it doesn't happen, then maybe I can work with another top player in the future. I'm looking forward to helping another player win a Grand Slam and become the No. 1 player in the world. Why not? The door is open."
A steady, steely player, Sanchez-Vicario was known as "the Barcelona Bumblebee" during her career. She was 73-13 at the French Open and defeated the likes of Graf (1989), Mary Pierce (1994) and Monica Seles (1998) in a trio of memorable finals.
She said the game today has become too power-focused, hoping that more crafty and all-court players (much like herself) will return to women's tennis.
"The game has changed," Sanchez-Vicario told reporters. "The style of play, it's completely different. Now the girls are taller and stronger and hitting the ball harder. I'm missing the players who are using the court more and have variety in their game. Radwanska has that. (Carla) Suarez Navarro has a one-handed backhand, so there are still some, but we need more. It would be nice to get get that variety back."
She also shared her (semi-biased) picks for potential champions here this year.
"Serena," she said for the women. "And the winner of the Nadal and Djokovic quarterfinal. Me, I'm Spanish so I prefer Rafa (laughing), but if he doesn't win that match, Djokovic then."