It is the first time that two Spaniards lead the ATP, a record that only the United States had achieved but with up to seven different players
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa Nadal officially became this Monday the first two players in the prestigious ranking of the ATP, in force since 1973. A historic day for Spanish tennis, since it is the first time that it has been achieved and It is the second country to achieve this achievement after the United States, the undisputed dominator of tennis in the last century.
Certainly, to find such a source, you have to go back no less than August 2000, when the Americans confirmed their hegemony in the men’s circuit with Andre Agassi as number one, followed by a certain Pete Sampras.
It was not the only time that the Americans accomplished such a feat, since the ranking of the seventies began with Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors at the head of this classification in which, due to the system of having to maintain the points achieved, it is almost as difficult or more to continue at the top than to reach the top.
In the midst of the United States tennis dictatorship, Connors was joined in the eighties by John McEnroe, now captain of this country’s team in the Laver Cup organized by Roger Federer. Already in the nineties, Agassi, Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang took over successively.
The Americans are far from the level they once offered, although they continue to dominate the ‘top 100’ with thirteen players installed there. By number of tennis players, Spain is the second country with ten, although tied with France. However, the first of the Gauls is the veteran Gael Monfils, who is in 33rd place and has five Spaniards ahead of him.
next challenges
From now on, the next challenge within reach of the young Murcian from El Palmar (19 years old) and the Balearic veteran (36) is to match the record set by Sampras and Chang 26 years ago, when they managed to finish the year in the first two positions of the circuit.
It will not be easy for Alcaraz and Nadal to continue in the first two positions because the Norwegian Casper Ruud is very close to Manacorense, only 165 points. In fact, the Nordic player, an outstanding student at Rafa’s academy, could recover second place this week, on the occasion of the Open 500 that takes place in Tokyo. It so happens that Ruud will make his debut against Mallorcan Jaume Munar, who could well do him a favor for his countryman Nadal.
The monarch of the Grand Slam tournaments, with 22 in his showcases, one more than Novak Djokovic and two more than the already retired Roger Federer, will not return to the courts until the Masters 1,000 in Paris-Bercy, which will be held from October 31 to November 6. Everything will depend on his personal situation on those dates, since he is probably already a recent father at that time and prefers to enjoy the family on such special days. Afterwards, he is already qualified for the Masters Cup that will take place in Turin from November 13 to 20.
Alcaraz, who has been watching everyone from his vantage point for four weeks, will premiere his universal reign this Tuesday at the Astana tournament, where he will face Belgian David Goffin, who was invited at the last minute because the Danish Rune dropped out after losing the final of Sofia against the Swiss Huesler.
In terms of titles won, Spain is the undisputed leader. The Navy has won 14 individual awards this season: five from Alcaraz, four from Nadal, two from Roberto Bautista and one from Pablo Carreño, Albert Ramos and Pedro Martínez. To put the data in perspective, the second country with the most individual successes this year is the United States with six, followed by Russia and Italy, both with five.
Topics
André Agassi, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Pedro Martínez, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Spain, United States, Italy, Russia, Sofia, Tokyo, Turin, Davis Cup
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