BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Today, the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, Marc R. Stanley, inaugurated a new mural by renown muralist Martin Ron featuring professional tennis players Gabriela Sabatini and Serena Williams playing tennis together.
“This mural serves as a symbol of the enduring friendship between the United States and Argentina and is a vivid example of the importance of empowering young girls so they know they can grow up to become strong sports icons who are making a difference around the world,” Ambassador Stanley said. “We wanted to add a creative and inspiring mural to the grounds of Palacio Bosch to encourage future generations to dream of bold possibilities when they see these incredible sports icons who have been leaders on and off the court.”
The new mural by Martin Ron was commissioned by Ambassador Stanley and his wife, Wendy Stanley, who is an avid tennis player in her spare time. Argentine tennis player Diego Schwartzman is also featured in the mural. Martin Ron is an Argentine muralist well known around the world for using grand dimensions, a lot of color, and extreme detail in his inspirational murals. Across from this new mural is another one Ron did in 2016 of tennis stars Andre Agassi and Juan Martin del Potro.
The inauguration included students from Mi Primer Peloteo, who had the opportunity to talk with the tennis stars and participate in some practice drills thanks to generous donations from Nike, Wilson, and PepsiCo.
Photo Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/embajadaeeuubuenosaires/albums/72177720303702356
BIOS
Gabriela Sabatini is an Argentine former professional tennis player who was one of the leading women players of her generation. She has won 41 titles, including the women’s doubles title at Wimbledon in 1988, and the Olympic singles silver medal in Seoul that same year, and then she went on to win the women’s singles title at the U.S. Open in 1990. Born in Buenos Aires, she was ranked No.1 in the 12-and-under division in Argentina by the time she was ten and won a total of 27 singles titles. In 1994 she published a motivational autobiography, called My Story. She retired in 1996 and continues to promote tennis and help 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. In 2006 she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and in 2018, Tennis Magazine ranked her as one of the greatest female players of the last 50 years.
Serena Williams is a former U.S. professional tennis player who holds the most combined major titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles ever, with 39: 23 in singles, 14 in women’s doubles, all with her sister, Venus, and two in mixed doubles. The Williams sisters were unbeaten in Grand Slam doubles finals, including a non-calendar year Grand Slam between the 2009 Wimbledon Championships and the 2010 French Open, which granted the sisters the doubles world No. 1 ranking. Serena also won four Olympic gold medals, three in women’s doubles—an all-time joint record shared with her sister. The Williams sisters have been credited with ushering in a new era of power and athleticism in women’s professional tennis.
Diego Schwartzman is a well-known Argentine professional tennis player. He has won four Association of Tennis Professionals singles titles and reached his career-high singles ranking of No. 8 in the world in October 2020.
Martin Ron is an Argentine muralist who is considered one of the top ten street artists in the world. He is known for using grand dimensions and extreme detail in his inspirational murals. Over the last 20 years, Ron has painted 400 murals of all kinds, big and small, with two main elements: fantasy and visual impact. He gives a second life to old buildings, always leaving his indelible mark.
