Arantxa Sánchez Vicario was born in Barcelona and played on the professional tour from 1985 to 2002. The writer Bud Collins nicknamed her the "Bumblebee of Barcelona". She played as a defensive baseliner.
She burst into prominence at the 1989 French Open. Only 17, she beat world No. 1 Steffi Graf 7–6, 3–6, 7–5 in the final to become the youngest women's champion at Roland Garros and the first Spanish player, man or woman, to win a major singles title. It was also the first French Open in 11 years without Chris Evert or Martina Navratilova in the draw.
Her best year was 1994. She won a second French Open, beating Mary Pierce, and at the US Open she lost the first set of the final 6–1 to Graf before winning 7–6, 6–4, the first Spanish woman to win the title. In February 1995 she became world No. 1, the first Spaniard to reach the top, and she held the ranking for 12 weeks. Graf remained the great obstacle: in 1995 and 1996 she lost four consecutive major finals to her at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Her third French Open came in 1998, against Monica Seles. She played 12 major singles finals in all.
Her doubles record was just as strong. She won six major doubles titles, with partners including Helena Suková and Jana Novotná, and four mixed titles, for 14 major titles in all (an earlier WTA count gives 13), along with 69 doubles titles and the No. 1 doubles ranking. With Conchita Martínez she led Spain to five Fed Cup titles, and she holds the competition's records for wins and ties played. She won four Olympic medals: singles bronze and doubles silver in Barcelona in 1992, and singles silver and doubles bronze in Atlanta in 1996.
She retired in November 2002 with 29 singles titles, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007 and captained Spain's Fed Cup team in 2012. A show court at the Mutua Madrid Open bears her name.