From this Monday, the Spanish Navy will make news again because for the first time in the 21st century a country will simultaneously have number one and two in the ATP ranking. You have to go back to the year 2000 when in the week of August 7 to 13, the Americans André Agassi and Pete Sampras were the first two, for seven days.
By SERGIO RIED / Photo: FILE
The surprising defeat of Casper Ruud, number 2 in the world, against the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (59 ATP) by 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Korea Open, made him fall back to third place in the ATP ranking, allowing Rafael Nadal to jump to second place behind Carlos Alcaraz and incidentally achieve his best position since April 2021.
In this way, Spain makes news again by having two of their own at the top of world tennis. This historical fact that two Spaniards are simultaneously at the top of the world ranking, shook the world of this sport and, obviously, Hispanics, who did not expect such a situation (at least so soon).
Because despite having Carlos Moyá, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz as number one in the world and Arantxa Sánchez and Garbiñe Muguruza in ladies, nothing is comparable to this one-two today, courtesy of the Scandinavian Casper Ruud, that he only managed to enjoy his number two for a few days.
To tell the truth, no one thought that the Norwegian was going to give up his throne so quickly, and even less so in a tournament of little importance and devoid of important figures like this event in Seoul in which he was the top favorite.
But sport is like that, even more so in an individual sport, fickle and unpredictable, so we can only congratulate Iberian tennis for its high production of elite players and for this historic achievement.
Hello Spain!
