SANTIAGO, Chile — Chilean President José Antonio Kast received CLAY and Anita Lizana’s family this Wednesday at the La Moneda Palace to mark the arrival in the country of the historic trophy won by the Chilean tennis player at the 1937 US Open.
The President personally thanked Carol Ellis Lizana for her contribution. Prompted by the wish of Ruth, her older sister, she decided to donate the trophy to Chile in honor of their mother’s memory, with the aim of bringing the athlete’s legacy closer to new generations of Chileans.
Sports Minister Francisco Riveros was the first to welcome the group, led by Ellis Lizana and Sebastián Varela, co-founder of CLAY and the driving force behind bringing the most important treasure in Chilean sports back home.
Ellis Lizana—accompanied by her husband, her three daughters, two sons-in-law, and three granddaughters (the eldest named Chile in honor of the tennis player)—presented the cup won by her mother in New York to the nation’s highest authority. To this day, it remains the only Grand Slam trophy won by a Chilean.
Furthermore, Ellis Lizana asked the authorities present to promote the creation of a statue in honor of the first Latin American woman to conquer one of the four tennis majors. Kast assured them that they would work on the initiative to preserve history and honor a champion like Lizana, who reached world No. 1 according to the unofficial rankings of her era.
“On behalf of CLAY and all journalists committed to preserving history and safeguarding the legacy of those who triumphed in sports, I thank the Lizana family for this spectacular gift of Anita’s to the country, and for trusting me to lead this project,” Varela said at La Moneda.
This Thursday, at the Anita Lizana Court inside the National Stadium Park, this milestone of immense heritage value will be celebrated at an event featuring national authorities, prominent athletes, and Chilean tennis legends.
“We will celebrate the fact that the tangible legacy of the most important athlete in Chile’s history is finally in her home country,” Varela stated.
“It completes my mother’s circle for the trophy to reside in Chile, alongside her legend and her blood,” confessed Anita Lizana’s youngest daughter.
