For the first time, Argentina will have a number one in an ATP ranking. Horacio Zeballos and his partner Marcel Granollers They got into the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters 1000by beating the Monegasque Hugo Nys and the Polish Jan Zielinski in a tight match, which was decided in a heart-stopping third set, and this Monday he will appear with the Spaniard at the top of the world doubles rankings.
At 39 years oldthe man from Mar del Plata will thus become the first tennis player albiceleste to reach that position in a men’s ranking in the history of this sport.
It was an intense match with a dramatic ending, in which the duo Zeballos and Granollers ran from behind: it was 4-6, 6-2 y 16-14after a super tie break that took place in Davis Cup atmosphere at the Caja Mágica in the Spanish capital.
Zeballos and Granollers, which had the best location in third place that they occupy today, had lost last year in the debut of the Madrid competition, so they did not defend points this week. After beating the Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in the round of 16, they were one win away from the top. And with this Thursday’s victory, they fulfilled the dream of No. 1.
Cebolla will climb to the top of the ranking 21 years after his debut as a professional tennis player, in 2003. Although after only five seasons dedicated exclusively to the couples discipline.
He is the top Argentine winner of the category, with 20 tournaments. And although he did not win any Grand Slam, he was a finalist in the US Open 2019, Wimbledon 2021 and 2023, in addition to being a semi-finalist in four other major tournaments.
The tournament continues for Horacio and Marcel, of course. This Friday they will face the Uruguayan duo Ariel Behar and the Czech Adam Pavlasek in the semifinals of the Masters 1000.
All Argentine number 1s
In the era of professionalism, two women managed to be at the top of the WTA ranking, also in doubles: they were Paola Suarez in 2002, in a couple with another Spaniard, Virginia Ruano, and in 2010 it was the turn of Gisela Dulkoen dupla with the Italian Flavia Pennetta.
To them we must add the achievement of Gustavo Fernandezwho reached the top of the ranking in the adapted tennis modality, in 2017.
Argentina also had 12 tennis players who were number 1 in the world in Juniors, according to the ITF ranking, in the period from 1984 to 2019: Gabriela Sabatini, Patricia Tarabini, Cristina Tessi, Florencia Labat, María Emilia Salerni, Guillermo Coria, Federico Browne, Mariano Zabaleta, Brian Dabul, Axel Geller. Sebastián Báez and Thiago Tirante. And in doubles, for the same youth competition, Mercedes Paz, Mariana Pérez Roldan, Patricia Tarabini and María Emilia Salerni achieved it. In addition, two other compatriots achieved it in adapted tennis: Antonella Pralong and Nicole Dhers.
In this list that includes great names and national tennis champions, it is impossible not to include Guillermo Vilas, The best of all time. Although Willy was not recognized at the time as 1 in the ranking, his formidable 1977 season, when he won 16 tournaments, including Roland Garros and the United States Open, is under review and waiting for the ATP to do justice. and finish crowning it.