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Manolo Santana As a ball boy at his local club, in Madrid, the young Manolo Santana picked up the game. Almost 25 years later he would gain worldwide respect by winning on the clay of Roland Garros, not once, but twice in 1961 and 1964; accompanying victories at the U.S. Championships in 1965 and Wimbledon in 1966. Rod Laver described him as: "A magician on clay. Manolo could hit the lost incredible angles, drive you crazy with topspin lobs or drop shots. And he improved his volleying so that he was dangerous on grass too."
The 5 foot 11 inch Spaniard was born on May 10th, 1938, and became the first European to win at Forest Hills, since Frenchman Henri Cochet in 1928. Having won the U.S. Championships in 1965 he became a national hero in Spain, and was awarded the coveted Medal of Isabella, by the country's leader Francisco Franco. During an illustrious Davis Cup career Santana spearheaded the Spanish challenge throughout the 1960s, upsetting the Americans on the way to a 4-1 defeat by Australia in the 1965 final. Santana gave 12-time Grand Slam winner Roy Emerson his only singles defeat in 12-title round matches. Two years later the two countries faced each other again, this time Santana beat John Newcombe for Spain only point. Santana's racket control was excellent, enabling him to hit with touch and power, great flair and a canny knack to improvise and inspire himself, his partners and team-mates. Beginning in 1961, he was ranked in the world's top ten for seven years, finishing in top spot in 1967. When the open era arrived Santana's career was virtually over, by
managed to win three professional doubles and one singles title in Barcelona
in 1970. He came out of retirement to play Davis Cup briefly in 1973 and
in 1974 acted as player-coach for New York in the new World Team Tennis
League and protégé Manuel Orantes. Grand Slam Record French Singles winner 1961, 1964; Doubles winner 1963 Wimbledon Singles winner 1966 U.S. Championships Singles winner 1965 Tournament Record (inc. Davis Cup) Italian Championships Singles finalist 1965 Spain Davis Cup team member 1958-70, 1973; losing side 1965, 1967
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