Former Tennis Star Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Gets Suspended Jail Sentence for Fraud

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, former world number one in tennis, has received a suspended two-year jail sentence for fraud from a Barcelona criminal court. Sanchez Vicario, along with her ex-husband Josep Santacana and three others, was convicted of concealing assets to evade payment of a debt to the Bank of Luxembourg. Santacana was sentenced to three years and three months in jail. The couple, who denied the charges, must pay 6.6 million euros (£5.6 million) in compensation.

The case originated from a 2009 Supreme Court order for Sanchez Vicario to pay a 5.2 million-euro (£4.5 million) fine for tax fraud between 1989 and 2003. The court found that despite her lack of financial knowledge, Sanchez Vicario was fully aware of the asset manipulation related to the debt. The verdict also noted the couple’s failure to repay the debt and concealment of assets. Sanchez Vicario, known for her tennis achievements, including four Grand Slam singles titles, now faces legal consequences.