Tennis Hall of Fame To Honor Gabriela Sabatini

Tennis Hall of Fame To Honor Gabriela Sabatini

NEWPORT, RI The International Tennis Hall of Fame, in conjunction with the Copa Telmex Tournament in Buenos Aires, will honor 2006 Hall of Famer Gabriela Sabatini during the tournaments Official Players Dinner on Sunday, February 15, 2009. This special ceremony will be made by Mark Stenning, Chief Executive Officer of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and 2005 Hall of Famer Butch Buchholz.

The International Tennis Hal of Fame and the Copa Telmex Tournament will pay a special tribute to Sabatini, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. As one of Argentinas great tennis players, Gabriela Sabatini became the first woman from Argentina to capture a Grand Slam title, winning the 1990 US Open title and defeating world No. 1 Steffi Graf in a straight set final.

Sabatini was the WTA Tour's most impressive newcomer in 1985 and received Rookie of the Year honors. In a career spanning 13 years, Sabatini captured 27 singles championships and 14 doubles championships, including the Wimbledon Doubles title in 1988 (with partner Steffi Graf, Hall of Famer 2004). Sabatini was ranked in the World Top 10 for ten consecutive years (1986-1995), reaching the World No. 3 ranking in 1995. She held the No. 1 ranking in South America and Argentina from 1985 through 1996. An attacker with powerful groundstrokes and incredible topspin, Sabatini completed her career with a singles win-loss record of 632-189.

Sabatini was the leader of the Argentine Fed Cup team 1985-87 and 1995, with a win-loss record of 24-6 (13-4 in singles; 11-2 in doubles). She was also a member of the Argentine Olympic teams in 1988 and 1996, winning the singles silver medal in 1988. In 2006, Sabatini was the first woman from Argentina to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, following countryman Guillermo Vilas who was inducted in 1991.

The Copa Telmex, an ATP World Tour event, will take place on the outdoor clay courts of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club February 16-22, with qualifying play on February 14 and 15. The Official Players Dinner on the 15th will kick-off a great week of professional tennis in Buenos Aires.

In addition to honoring Hall of Famer Gabriela Sabatini at the opening dinner, the International Tennis Hall of Fame will present an exhibit throughout the tournament featuring the great tennis players of Argentina, including Hall of Famers Gabriela Sabatini and Guillermo Vilas, as well as Enrique Morea, Jose Luis Clerc and many others.

http://www.hofmag.com/content/view/1347/190/