Emilio Ángel Sánchez Vicario (; born 29 May 1965) is a Spanish former doubles world No. 1 tennis player. He won five Grand Slam doubles titles and the men's doubles silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games. Sánchez is the elder brother of multiple Grand Slam winner Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, with whom he partnered to win the Hopman Cup in 1990. After retiring, he captained Spain to Davis Cup victory in 2008.
Career
Sánchez turned professional in 1984 and won his first top-level singles title in Nice, France in 1986. He won 15 singles titles during his career, including the Italian Open in 1991. During his singles career, he achieved wins over top 5 players including Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker and Mats Wilander. Sánchez's career-high singles ranking was world No. 7.
In doubles, Sánchez captured 50 doubles titles (44 of which partnering Sergio Casal) including three at Grand Slam events. In 1988, he won the doubles titles at both the French Open (with Andrés Gómez) and the US Open (with Casal). He won the French Open title again (with Casal) in 1990. Sánchez and Casal were also the doubles runners-up at Wimbledon in 1987, and the pair won the silver medal for Spain at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Sánchez was ranked world No. 1 in men's doubles in 1989.
He won two Grand Slam mixed-doubles titles in 1987, at the French Open (with Pam Shriver) and at the US Open (with Martina Navratilova).
Sánchez often played for Spain in international team events. He was a member of Spain's Davis Cup team from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, compiling a 32–23 record. Sanchez was also part of the Spanish teams that won the Hopman Cup in 1990 and the World Team Cup in 1992.
Sánchez is the brother of Javier Sánchez Vicario.Emilio Sánchez Vicario . sports-reference.com In 1987, Emilio and Javier met in the final at Madrid, with Emilio winning the match 6–3, 3–6, 6–2. Emilio and Javier faced each other 12 times during their professional careers, with Emilio winning 10 of their matches. In their two grand slam encounters, Emilio defeated Javier in the first round of the 1988 Wimbledon Championships in straight sets, and the third round of the 1992 US Open in five sets. They also frequently played together in doubles.
Emilio Sánchez retired from the professional tour in 1998.
Post-retirement In 1998, alongside his former doubles partner Casal, Sánchez set up the Sánchez-Casal Tennis Academy in Barcelona. Former students have included Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov, Daniela Hantuchova and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Sánchez was the captain of the Spanish Davis Cup team for three years; his tenure there culminated in Spain's 2008 Davis Cup victory. He resigned as captain after the win.Sanchez Vicario Quits as Davis Cup Captain Yahoo! Sports, 25 November 2008
In 2009, he signed a contract with the Brazilian tennis confederation to coordinate the sport in Brazil.Emilio Sanchez Vicario to Reinvigorate Brazilian Tennis SI.com, 10 February 2009
Sánchez was tournament director for two wheelchair tennis events in 2012.Emilio Sanchez backs wheelchair tennis. itftennis.com. 16 April 2012
In 2017, Sánchez was awarded by the ITF its highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award, for his contributions to tennis.
Personal life Sánchez was born in Madrid to Emilio Sánchez Benito and Marisa Vicario Rubio. His mother, Marisa, introduced Emilio, his brother and his two sisters to tennis.
As well as siblings Arantxa Sánchez and Javier, he also has an older sister – Marisa Sánchez Vicario – who briefly played professional tennis, peaking at world No. 368 in 1990.
In 1999, Sánchez married his Italian-born wife Simona, with whom he has four children.
Grand Slam record French Open Singles quarterfinalist: 1988 Doubles champion: 1988 (partnering Andrés Gómez), 1990 (partnering Sergio Casal) Mixed doubles champion: 1987 (partnering Pam Shriver)
US Open Singles quarterfinalist: 1988 Doubles champion: 1988 (partnering Casal) Mixed doubles champion: 1987 (partnering Martina Navratilova)
Wimbledon Doubles finalist: 1987 Mixed doubles semifinalist: 1986
Career finals Singles:27 (15 wins – 12 losses)
ResultW-LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1–0 Apr 1986 Nice, France Clay Paul McNamee 6–1, 6–3Win 2–0 May 1986 Munich, Germany Clay Ricki Osterthun 6–1, 6–3Loss 1–2 May 1986Rome, Italy Clay Ivan Lendl 5–7, 6–4, 1–6, 1–6Win 3–1 Jul 1986 Båstad, Sweden Clay Mats Wilander 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 6–4Loss 3–2 Apr 1987 Nice, France Clay Kent Carlsson 6–7(7–9), 3–6Loss 3–3 Jun 1987 Bologna, Italy Clay Kent Carlsson 2–6, 1–6Win 4–3 Jul 1987 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Ronald Agénor 6–2, 6–3, 7–6(7–5)Win 5–3 Jul 1987 Bordeaux, France Clay Ronald Agénor 5–7, 6–4, 6–4Win 6–3 Aug 1987 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Miloslav Mečíř 6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–1Win 7–3 Sep 1987 Madrid, Spain Clay Javier Sánchez 6–3, 3–6, 6–2Loss 7–4 Mar 1988Indian Wells, U.S. Hard Boris Becker 5–7, 4–6, 6–2, 4–6Loss 7–5 Jun 1988 Bologna, Italy Clay Alberto Mancini 5–7, 6–7(4–7)Win 8–5 Aug 1988 Hilversum, Netherlands Clay Guillermo Pérez Roldán 6–3, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3Loss 8–6 Aug 1988 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Kent Carlsson 1–6, 1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 3–6Loss 8–7 Jul 1989 Hilversum, Netherlands Clay Karel Nováček 2–6, 4–6Win 9–7 Aug 1989 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Martín Jaite 7–6(7–1), 6–1, 2–6, 6–2Loss 9–8 Oct 1989 Bordeaux, France Clay Ivan Lendl 2–6, 2–6Win 10–8 Jan 1990 Wellington, New Zealand Hard Richey Reneberg 6–7(3–7), 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–1Win 11–8 Apr 1990 Estoril, Portugal Clay Franco Davín 6–3, 6–1Win 12–8 Apr 1991Barcelona, Spain Clay Sergi Bruguera 6–4, 7–6(9–7), 6–2Win 13–8 May 1991Rome, Italy Clay Alberto Mancini 6–3, 6–1, 3–0 ret.Loss 13–9 May 1991 Schenectady, United States Hard Michael Stich 2–6, 4–6Win 14–9 Jul 1991 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Sergi Bruguera 6–1, 6–4, 6–4Loss 14–10 Sep 1991 Palermo, Italy Clay Frédéric Fontang 6–1, 3–6, 3–6Win 15–10 Jan 1992 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Hard Guy Forget 6–3, 6–4Loss 15–11 Oct 1992 Palermo, Italy Clay Sergi Bruguera 1–6, 3–6Loss 15–12 Nov 1993 Santiago, Chile Clay Javier Frana 5–7, 6–3, 3–6
Doubles: 79 (50 wins – 29 losses) Legend Grand Slam tournaments (3) Tennis Masters Cup (0) ATP Masters Series (3) ATP Championship Series (3) ATP Tour (41) Finals by surface Hard (7–8) Clay (40–17) Grass (0–1) Carpet (3–3)