ITF Press Release, April 5, 2019

The International Tennis Federation has today announced that Gabriela Sabatini has been awarded the ITF’s highest honour, the Philippe Chatrier Award. 

The Philippe Chatrier Award, named after the former ITF President, was introduced in 1996 and is awarded to individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to the sport of tennis both on and off the court. 

Sabatini, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006, enjoyed an outstanding career as a player winning the US Open singles title in 1990 and Wimbledon doubles in 1988, the same year she won the Olympic singles silver medal in Seoul. She retired in 1996 with 27 singles titles and 14 doubles titles, having reached a career high singles ranking of No.3. 

Sabatini has continued to contribute to the sport and spends a significant amount of time promoting tennis and helping children around the world, working with UNICEF, UNESCO, the Special Olympics and as an Athlete Role Model at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games. 

David Haggerty, the ITF President, said: “The ITF Board of Directors are delighted to award the ITF’s highest accolade to Gabriela, a great champion and inspirational role model who has given so much to the sport through her contributions to many organisations for the benefit of young people and aspiring tennis players around the world.”

2019 Philippe Chatrier Award winner, Gabriela Sabatini said: “When you get an award for the career you spent your whole life in, it’s such a big honour.  It’s especially nice because I’ll be getting the award in Paris – it’s a place that is special and I always loved playing there. It’s such an important night where they give all the important awards, I’m very pleased and very honoured.”

The award will be presented at the ITF World Champions Dinner in Paris on 4 June.