Manolo Santana was a Spanish tennis player who was ranked as amateur world No. 1 in 1965 by Ned Potter and in 1966 by Lance Tingay.
Originally born Manuel Santana Martínez on 10 May 1938, in Madrid, Spain, he began his career as a ball boy and “picked up” the game.
Manuel Santana got attracted to tennis by chance after he sent a meal to his brother who worked in a tennis club in Madrid. It didn’t take much time for him to lead Spain to an unexpected victory over the U.S. in the Davis Cup In 1965.
His victory in the Davis Cup made him very popular around Spain and the world. Santana also won the Wimbledon Championship.
Santana was recognised in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984. He died on 11 December 2021 in his home in Marbella, Spain.
Santana was 83 years old. The Madrid Open confirmed his death, however, they did not give the cause of his death.
Several tennis stars including Rafael Nadal have reacted to the news of his death.