Gabriela Sabatini Biography

Gabriela Sabatini is an Argentine former professional tennis player who was one of the leading women players of her generation. Winner of the women's singles title at the US Open in 1990, she was also a very skilled doubles player who won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1988, partnering Germany's Steffi Graf. Born in Buenos Aires, she grew up watching her father and brother play tennis and became enamored with the game. She was only six when she began practicing the sport by herself, hitting the ball against the wall. Her father sensed that she possessed a natural talent for the game and arranged for her to receive coaching. She displayed extraordinary potential even as a young girl and was ranked No.1 in the 12-and-under division in her country by the time she was ten. She continued to hold the top position over the next few years and decided to pursue tennis professionally while she was in her mid-teens. She came into the international spotlight in 1984 after winning seven of the eight junior tournaments she entered. Her career continued to thrive and she had won a total of 27 singles titles and including one US Open by the time she retired. Following her retirement she focused on her perfume business and humanitarian activities.