Argentinian tennis player Tomas Martin Etcheverry, ranked 49 in the ATP, fulfilled expectations by defeating Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, ranked 33 in the ATP and the 27th seed, with a score of 7-6 (10), 6-0, and 6-1 in two hours and four minutes. The victory in the round of 16 at Roland-Garros propels Etcheverry into the quarterfinals.
During the match, Etcheverry managed to break Nishioka’s serve six times. On the other hand, Nishioka broke his opponent’s serve only once, achieved an 85% first serve rate, made two double faults, and won 53% of service points.
The championship will continue on Wednesday at 12:00 PM Spanish time, with Etcheverry facing Germany’s Alexander Zverev, ranked 27 and the 22nd seed. The Paris tournament (Roland-Garros Men’s Singles) takes place between May 22 and June 11 on outdoor clay courts. A total of 236 players participate, with 128 reaching the finals through direct qualifications, victories in previous tournament rounds, and invitations.
A Century-Old Sport
Tennis is considered a classic sport. Each year, four tournaments, known as ‘Grand Slams,’ capture global attention: the season begins with the Australian Open, followed by the clay court of Roland Garros, then moves to London for Wimbledon, and concludes in the US with the US Open.
Throughout the year, players continue to compete worldwide on various court surfaces: hard or fast courts, clay, or grass.
Tennis originated in Europe in the late 18th century and has been a professional sport since 1926. Initially popular among English-speaking upper-class societies, tennis has become a global sport with two main categories: men’s (ATP) and women’s (WTA) competition.
ATP
The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) encompasses male professional tennis players from around the world. The ATP tour hosts several tournaments throughout the year: ATP Masters 1000, ATP 500, and ATP 250. Below these tournaments, the ATP Challenger Tour features the future stars of global tennis. The ATP also oversees Grand Slam events.
The quest to be the greatest in men’s tennis continues with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer striving to break records and claim the most Grand Slam titles. These three players are often referred to as the ‘Big Three’ in contrast to the emerging ‘Next Gen.’
Promising tennis stars, such as Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, Germany’s Alexander Zverev, and Russia’s Medvedev and Rublev, have made strong impressions on the global tennis circuit.
Novak Djokovic currently holds the record for most weeks at ATP’s number one ranking, closely followed by Roger Federer, American legend Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, and Jimmy Connors.
WTA
The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) was founded in 1973 by renowned former tennis player Billie Jean King. The Californian won 39 Grand Slam titles during her active career and remains an influential figure in the tennis world.
Many female tennis players currently strive to stay at the top of the sport and surpass Stefanie Graff or Serena Williams. Players like Poland’s Iga Świątek (2021 Roland Garros champion), Greece’s Maria Sakkari, and Spain’s Paula Badosa (first Spanish winner of Indian Wells) compete to remain in the WTA’s famous top 10.
In 2022, Australian player Ashleigh Barty announced her definitive retirement from tennis, leaving behind an impressive career with several Grand Slam titles. Now, it is time for other players to take up the mantle and become number one.
