Arantxa and Conchita, a silver as an alliance of the perfect couple

Arantxa and Conchita. Conchita’s powerful and exceptional forehand, Arantxa’s sharp and varied backhand, both of which share an elite place among the world’s 10 best, are twenty years old and include the 1991 Federation Cup and the Roland Garros final alike. Because of the aesthetics of his tennis, because of the numbers, because of his charisma, like that an idyllic natural fusionthe necessary joint proclamation of two figures who would anoint Spanish women’s tennis success for years to come, together and separately.

That could only go well and Barcelona ’92 came out with silver. Only the American Fernández, the favorite and most up-to-date Gigi and MaryJoe, They managed to determine the perfect totality of Conchita and Arantxa in the final, but not before becoming muddled with suffering in the land of Vall d’Hebron before sinking into happiness: 7-5, 2-6 and 6-2. In truth, regardless of the logic of their quality and ranking, it came from within them to play Arantxa and Conchita together.

“It’s very exciting. We’re the focus of the nation and at some Games, the nationality unites you more. We know each other since childhood we grew up together, had a big complicity, we have a sign language that only we understand. We were the perfect pairing”, highlights Arantxa, now a resident of Miami and tennis lecturer and commentator.

“I have great memories of that medal. We have already shown in Arantxa what we can do and we have an important ranking, Playing together is a natural thing”, emphasizes Conchita, now without a fixed place in the world, rotating as a coach of Garbine Muguruza. But it is not only an indissoluble union because of feelings, but also because of the specific and different personality of tennis that acts as a hinge. “We had different styles but we complemented each other well”, remembers Sánchez Vicario.

“We both played well from the back of the court, Arantxa had a little more experience playing with expert doubles players (she won Australian Open 1992 with Czech Helena Suková) and she volleys well, she knows when to cross. We are not a serve and volley couple but we have other strengths and since he plays better on the backhand and I on the forehand we complement each other well. While we played well from the baseline, we had the ability to trouble players with pure serve and volley doubles, We put the ball on the foot and we can define ”, examining Conchita.

As great and undeniable signs of sincere cooperation in all aspects, another Olympic medal with bronze from Atlanta ’96 and five Federation Cups in that decade -currently the Billie Jean King Cup-, both in doubles sealed the final victory in four of them, and prevailed, more mature, in Gigi and Mary Joe in late 1994. Another thing, as they warned, is how they intend to question their union from the outside.

Arantxa and Conchita

Combined honor

1

Silver JJ.OO. Barcelona ’92

two

Olympic bronze. Atlanta ’96

3

Federation Cup ’91, ’93, ’94, ’95 and ’98

4

Roland Garros ’92 Finalists

5

Barcelona Ladies Open ’92 and ’93

6

Arantxa is number 1 in singles and doubles and Conchita number 2 in singles and 7 in doubles

“With Conchita, we always had a friendly relationship and we still do, and also a friendly rivalry when we faced each other in singles, but the media They made it seem like we didn’t have a healthy rivalry and had a bad relationship, when we didn’t. The tendency is always to write more than necessary about these things and we cannot control it”, complained Sánchez Vicario, an opinion with which Monzón agrees. “What is sold is written. When you don’t treat someone well, it’s impossible to play doubles with them and, unless you get good results like we did. It’s morbid…”, agreed Conchita Martínez.

The occasions that seem to be caused by the whims of the cadres, the same ones who have come together to share metal with the doubles will go to them in the rooms to remove the medal of an individual box which then distributed two bronzes and, therefore, got a medal with a bruise in the semis. From friends to enemies in a moment, that rivalry, more than a trance, was another transition from singles to doubles and vice versa that would become routine for Arantxa and Conchita throughout their career. joy is for Sanchez Vicario (6-4 and 6-4).

“It was a shame that it coincided and it was difficult to get out of the quarters, but playing in singles was something natural, then I changed the chip to do my best in doubles like before”, recalled Conchita. “It’s a game of many feelings and emotions because one of the two will be left without a medal. It’s a long endurance game where I know how to play better in decisive moments”, recalled Arantxa.

And the mutual fidelity continued in the doubles and they reached the final after an impeccable 6-1 and 6-2 against the Australians Rachel McQuillan and Nicole Provis in the semifinals. Gigi and Mary Joe were waiting for them and forcefully questioned their favoritism so the third set was forced.

“They are better, we must bear in mind that they were the best doubles players in the world, they were also Olympic champions in Atlanta, but we made them suffer with public support. The pressure of playing at home finally got to us and, when that happens, your legs are heavy and your decisions are worse. They served and volleyed very well and left us a little space, their net covered the court well. While they are glued to the network we try make balloons but they hardly left us”, Arantxa recalled.

Sánchez Vicario will take two more Olympic medals off his chest in Atlanta – also in the individual – for a total of four. “The Games are only 4 years old and it has to coincide that you are in shape. For me, an Olympic medal, no matter what color, is a double pleasure and It’s more important.” assures the Catalan.

And Conchita Martínez, who shared with her student Garbiñe the unique honor of succeeding in Wimbledonadded two more metals with Atlanta bronze in doubles and the silver with Vivi Ruano in Athens ’04. “I was lucky to win Wimbledon (1994) and three Olympic medals. But, if I am chosen, I will take the Grand Slam, which is very difficult to win”, underlines Conchita. The only thing that disagrees with what the perfect couple.