Gabriela Sabatini is Latin America’s best tennis player.

Women’s sports narratives are frequently pushed to the background. It is our purpose to change that, to highlight their successes and create a tapestry of stories that inspire and motivate.

Our weekly column, Latin Women in Sports, aims to celebrate their accomplishments, break down boundaries, and promote the idea that in sports, as in life, every voice deserves to be heard.

SEATTLE — When discussing the history of women’s tennis in Latin America, Gabriela Sabatini is generally mentioned first. The Buenos Aires native was one of the sport’s brightest talents, debuting on the WTA tour in 1985 at the age of 15.

Sabatini’s name had already been well-known in the women’s game before she joined the circuit. At 14, she was regarded as the top junior player in the world, and a year later, she had reached the French Open quarterfinals.

Her record speaks for itself: 632 wins in 821 career matches, including 27 singles titles.

Her career reached its height in 1990, when she became the first and only Latin American woman to win a singles Grand Slam.

Sabatini took over the hard courts of New York, dropping 13 games across four matches on her way to the final, just a few months after suffering her sixth Grand Slam semifinal loss of her career.

Her career peaked in 1990, when she became the first and only Latin American woman to complete a singles Grand Slam.

Sabatini dominated the New York hard courts, dropping 13 games in four matches to reach the final, just a few months after losing her sixth Grand Slam semifinal.

Sabatini, an Olympic medalist and 14-time doubles champion, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame last year.

One of the best Latin women in sports history, she received tennis’ highest honor in 2019 as the recipient of the Philippe Chartrier Award, which is given to individuals or organizations that have made significant achievements to the sport of tennis both on and off the court.

Despite being one of the top players in the world, the Argentine brought her extraordinary career to a stop at the age of 26, following 12 seasons on the WTA Tour.

Sabatini explained that after speaking with a psychologist, she determined “enough was enough.” In an interview with Swiss Life, she added: “I have always followed my inner conviction in life – and this is also self-determination.”

That dedication may have ended her professional tennis career, but it also sparked the story of another Sabatini, an entrepreneur and social activist.

The Argentine has a perfume brand and is a strong champion for breast cancer awareness. Sabatini, one of the most well-known Latin American ladies, has made significant contributions to the community.