Historical: Alcaraz and Nadal, number 1 and 2 in the world

For the first time in history, two Spanish tennis players will lead the ATP world rankings next Monday. Carlos Alcaraz is early morning this October 3 as the best tennis player in the worldwhile Rafael Nadal will do as second best.

This Friday this fact was proven after the defeat of Casper Ruud in Seoul ATP quarterfinals. The Norwegian, currently number 2 in the world ranking, lost against Yoshihito Nishioka through 6-2, 3-6 and 6-2 and will give his place in the ranking to his partner and friend nadal next monday.

This way, the Spaniard is second to Alcaraz in the table, number 1 since his victory at the last US Open. The Murcian will add his fourth week at the top of the rankings on Mondaywhere Rafa will return to the second position. Nadal has been absent since May 3, 2021.

Therefore, this milestone is historic for Spanish tennis. A few days ago, Alcaraz became the fourth national tennis player to rise to the number 1 position in the world, something they have only recently achieved. Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero and himself nadal. However, never during the reign of any of them has there been another Spanish tennis player in the second position, a fact that will happen next week.

Besides, you have to go back twenty-two years ago to find two tennis players from the same country at the top of the ATP rankings. They achieved that milestone last time and for the United States the August 7 of that year 2000 Andrew Agassithen number 1, and Peter Sampras, number 2. A week later, Sampras fell to number 4 in the world and never since then, in twenty-two years, has there been a situation where two tennis players from the same country have topped the rankings. On Monday, Alcaraz and Nadal will change that story.