Manolo Santana, Spain’s first Wimbledon winner, dies at the age of 83 | Tennis news

MADRID: Tennis legend Manuel Santana, the first Spanish Wimbledon champion, died on Saturday at the age of 83 at the Madrid Masters tournament, of which he was Honorary President.
“Thank you a thousand times for what you have done for our country and for paving the way for so many people. You have always been a point of reference, a friend and a person who is very close to everyone,” tweeted Rafael Nadal only other Spaniard to win Wimbledon. “We will miss you.”
‘Manolo’ Santana has won four major singles titles. He won the French Open in 1961 and 1964, the US Open in Forest Hills in 1965 and Wimbledon in 1966 wearing Real Madrid.
“His love for the club inspired him to win Wimbledon wearing Real Madrid in 1966, which made him the first Spanish tennis player to win this Grand Slam,” the club wrote on its website.
In 1968 he won the gold medal in singles and the silver medal in doubles in Mexico City, where tennis was included as a demonstration event.
He was Spain’s captain in the Davis Cup between 1980 and 1985 and again between 1995 and 1999.
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez lamented the loss of a “legend”.
Spanish media reported that Santana had Parkinson’s disease and lived in Marbella on the Mediterranean coast.