A historic Monday for world tennis. And even more so for the Spanish one
A historic Monday
From the point of view of the ATP ranking, the classic one based on placings over the last 52 weeks, it is a historic day. For the first time two Spaniards occupy the top two positions. Behind Carlos Alcaraz, in fact, although he is not playing, Rafa Nadal climbs again, overtaking the Norwegian Casper Ruud. The Roland Garros and U.S. Open finalist paid for his quarterfinal loss at the Korea Open in Seoul to future champion Yoshihito Nishioka, who signs a new best ranking at No. 41. This is the first time since August 2000 that two compatriots occupy the top two ranking positions: then at the top were Americans Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.
Meanwhile, the Astana Open is also very important in terms of Turin in the doubles Race. Five spots remain to be filled at the Finals. The ATP 500 at Nur-Sultan offers an important chance to Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini, tenth. There will also be Croatia’s Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, the fourth pair in the Race and the first not mathematically qualified for the Finals; Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos (fifth); Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara (sixth); and Tim Puetz and Michael Venus (eighth). Instead, Australians Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, seventh in the Race, will play in Tokyo.
