October 3, 2022 will be marked on the history of spanish tennis. This day Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal have appeared numbers 1 and 2 of the ATP ranking. A success that two tennis players from the same country had never achieved before since the Americans did it for the last time Pete Sampras y Andre Agassi in the year 2000. “Two Spaniards at the top of the ranking. Proud to share this historic moment with Rafa Nadal. Let’s go!”, he wrote on social networks alcaraz this Monday from Astana (Kazakhstan), where the young tennis player from Murcia reappears tomorrow after winning the US Open.
“It is amazing and infinite joy. A success to the DNA of our tennis for the way of working, the mentality and the perseverance in the effort”, he values Alex Corretja who, in 1999, was also able to do the double when Carlos Moya he placed world number 1 in Indian Wells and the Catalan was fourth, after being second at the beginning of the year. “We had it in hand several times, but that was a temporary thing. The two of them are more to stay, ”values the Catalan tennis player to EL PERIÓDICO. “The Nadal thing is another dimension and Alcaraz holy water. The two show that the Spanish tennis factory has not stopped for many years, ”he highlights.
“If it is already very difficult to have a number 1, imagine having the first two in such a short time and with the age difference that separates them. Carlos, 19 years old and with a spectacular future, and Rafa, number 2, almost 37 years old. The generational change could not be better for Spanish tennis”, he highlights Javier Duarteformer champion champion of the first Davis Cup in 2000.
US dominance
The last time that two tennis players from the same country achieved something similar was on August 7, 2020 when Sampras y Agassi they moved to the top of the standings, although they failed to hold onto that position at the end of that season. That year the number 1 would be the Brazilian Gustavo Kuertenwhile Sampras and Agassi would finish number 3 and number 6. It was the end of the dominance of the United States, the only country that, so far, has managed to do the double at the end of a year since the ranking was created in 1973. first to achieve it were John McEnroe y Jimmy Connors (1982 and 1984), they were followed Sampras y Agassi (1995 and 1994) and for the last time they succeeded Sampras y Michael Chang (1996).
In 2013 Nadal y David Ferrer they closed a spectacular season as number 1 and number 3, but the tennis player from Alicante never had the option of approaching world number 2, a position in which Djokovic finished with a 6,460-point advantage.
the ultimate challenge
alcaraz Add this Monday your fourth week as number 1 with 6,740 points and 930 points ahead of Nadal who has displaced from second place, without playing, the Norwegian Casper Ruudthird (5,645 points) and Russian Daniil Medvedev, fourth (5,065).
Some minimal differences that leave the final classification of the year open with 2,750 points at stake during these last six weeks until the ATP Finals from November 13 to 20 in Turin and where, for now, Alcaraz, Nadal, Ruud and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
In that battle for number 1 at the end of the year, the most benefited is Nadal, It doesn’t defend any point. alcaraz The Majorcan lags behind as he only defends 240 points for a third round in the Masters 1,000 in Paris and a semifinal in Vienna. While Ruudthird in discord, they have to defend the 400 points of the semifinals in the Masters. Tsitsipas He also has his option open at the end of the year in which he only defends 45 points.
It will be more complicated Medvedevchampion in Paris and finalist in the Masters last year and who has to defend 1,950 points before thinking about regaining world number 1.
In that last battle Djokovic, who cannot opt to regain the leadership he has held for 373 weeks due to his refusal to be vaccinated for Covid-19 and letting 10,000 points escape this year, will become a decisive judge.
The Serbian champion has returned by winning the title in Tel Aviv, the 89th of his career, and he goes into the final sprint ready to also earn his place at the ATP Finals in Turin.
