Claudia Rodriguex is the wife of Manolo Santana, the famous Spanish tennis pioneer who won the Wimbledon Championship in 1966 and was ranked number one in the world in 1965, He recently passed away.
Manolo Santana was the first Spanish to win a Grand Slam tennis championship.
The Mutua Madrid Open, of which he was honorary president, was the one that broke the news of his death.
Manuel Santana was a famous tennis pioneer in Spain, as he was the first player of his nationality to win a Grand Slam tournament, Roland Garros, in 1961.
Who Is Manolo Santana Wife? Meet Claudia Rodríguez
Claudia Rodriguez was the fourth wife of Manolo Santana. Reportedly she was 20 years junior to him.
The couple got married in a secret wedding ceremony at their friends’ house in Nueva Andalucia. Claudia is a Columbian native.
However, the couple later got divorced.
Claudia Rodriguez, la mujer de Manolo Santana, responde a los ataques de Mila Ximénez al tenista: “Ha vivido de él toda su vida” https://t.co/WLdouMaJKX pic.twitter.com/dEI6YvQW7I
— exclusiva digital (@exclusivadg) January 9, 2021
Prior to Claudia, Santana married Mara Fernanda González-Dopeso, with whom he had four children: Manuel, Beatriz, Borja, and Bárbara. In 1980, their marriage came to an end.
He later married reporter Mila Ximénez and had a daughter, Alba, with her. The divorce was bitter.
Mila Ximénez died at the age of 69, exactly one year after she was in charge of sharing her illness with the audience of ‘Save me.’ The collaborator revealed through tears that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer after a few weeks away from her program.
We lost a tennis legend and a great, kind man today. Rest In Peace Manolo Santana ? pic.twitter.com/Gy7vHjfpt8
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) December 11, 2021
What Was Manolo Santana Net Worth?
Manolo Santana’s net worth is not revealed in any source. However, through a successful career in tennis, he must had accumulated a huge fortune.
Santana became a national hero after leading Spain to a surprise Davis Cup victory over the United States in 1965. His most notable event victory came in 1970 when he defeated Rod Laver 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 in Barcelona.
DEP Manolo.Gracias por tu bondad, cercanía y por enseñarnos el camino. Siempre fuiste nuestro referente, para todos en el tenis español, un pionero. Tan atento y tan cercano, en los buenos y los malos momentos. Te echaré de menos.
Todo mi cariño para su familia y seres queridos. pic.twitter.com/VLUWLmsimf— Garbiñe Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) December 11, 2021
He also won the doubles title in Barcelona that year, defeating Laver/Andrés Gimeno 6–4 9–7 7–5 with Lew Hoad. In 1984, Santana was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Santana received the ITF Philippe Chatrier Award in 2020 for his contributions both on and off the court to tennis.
Meet Manolo Santana Family & His Children
On May 10, 1938, Manolo Santana was born in the Vallecas area of Madrid. He came from a humble family and began working as a ball boy at the Velázquez club when he was 12 years old.
His father, imprisoned for political reasons under the Franco administration, died in 1954, and the Romero Girón family took him in. He moved in with them and progressed from ball boy to club member.
Over his life, he was married to five women. Manolo has five children named; Manuel, Beatriz, Borja, Bárbara and Alba.