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The best Latinx Players to Compete in the US Open
As the US Open, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, unfolds in New York, it is essential to recognize the numerous Latino tennis players who have contributed to the sport. With their skill, determination, and passion, these athletes have made their mark on the ATP rankings, showcasing their talent on the grand stage.
In this article, we plan to highlight the best male and female Latino tennis players in the ATP rankings, as well as some historic ones who marked a before and after in the sport, shedding light on their achievements and the impact they have had on the tennis industry.
What is the US Open?
The US Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in professional tennis, alongside the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. Held annually in Flushing Meadows, New York, the US Open attracts the world’s top tennis players who compete for the coveted title. Known for its electric atmosphere and iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, the tournament has a rich history of showcasing exceptional talent and unforgettable matches.
The Current Top Latino Tennis Players on the ATP Ranking
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Francisco Cerundolo
Fran Cerundolo is a 25-year-old tennis player from Argentina. Currently, Cerundolo is the best Latin American player in the ATP ranking, standing at the 20th position, with a career-high rank of 19th place. He has obtained two titles in his career, and his skills are steadily improving, ever since winning six times against the top 10 players last year. His best results have been the title at the Nordea Open 2022 and at the Rothesay International 2023, as well as the final of the Argentina Open 2021 and the Lyon Tournament 2023.
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Beatriz Haddad Maia
Hailing from Brazil, Beatriz “Bia” Haddad Maia made history on June 12th, 2023, when she achieved a career-high WTA world singles ranking of 10 and also secured the same ranking in doubles on May 8th, 2023, becoming the first Brazilian woman to break into the top 10 in singles since the rankings’ inception. She currently stands at 16, making her the highest-ranked Latin American female tennis player, but unfortunately was knocked out of the US Open in the second round. She boasts two singles and five doubles titles on the WTA Tour, accompanied by a singles and doubles title each on the WTA Challenger Tour, in addition to an impressive tally of 17 singles and nine doubles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit. She also reached the Australian Open doubles final in 2022.
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Sebastián Baez
Sebastián Báez is a 22-year-old Argentine professional tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of 30, achieved on April 17th, 2023. As a junior in 2018, he reached the number 1 position and won the gold medal in doubles at the Youth Olympic Games. Professionally, Báez has won 4 ATP titles, and in 2023, he became the tenth Argentinian player to win three titles in the same season in the Open Era.
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Tomás Etcheverry
Also hailing from Argentina, Tomás Martín Etcheverry has a career-high ATP world singles ranking of 30, achieved on June 19th, 2023. Etcheverry has won three ATP Challenger titles in singles and five ITF titles in singles. He has also won one ATP Challenger title in doubles. Tomas’ best Grand Slam performance came at the 2023 Roland-Garros, where he reached the quarterfinals. He is often compared to the historic Juan Martín Del Potro since both players are quite tall.
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Leylah Fernandez
Leylah Annie Fernandez, a prominent Canadian tennis player with Ecuadorian and Filipino roots, has made her mark on the world of tennis, currently standing 20th in the ATP ranking. Her talent blossomed in 2019 when she was crowned champion at Roland Garros in the junior category and rose as a finalist in the same modality at the Australian Open. In her professional career, she has shined as a finalist at the 2021 US Open, cementing her position among the elite of the sport. Sadly, she recently lost against Yekaterina Aleksándrova and was left out of the US Open.
In addition to the current crop of Latino players, there have been many great Latino tennis players in the past. Some of the most notable include:
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Guillermo Vilas
Guillermo Vilas is a former Argentine professional tennis player who began his career in 1973, retiring in 1992. He is considered the greatest Latin American clay-court player of all time. Vilas won 62 ATP singles titles, including four Grand Slams: Roland Garros (1977), US Open (1977), and two Australian Open (1978, 1979). Vilas was ranked the world number 2 for several weeks.
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Gabriela Sabatini
Gabriela Sabatini is considered the best Argentinian female player in history, being active from 1985 to 1996. She was known for her elegant playing style and her powerful groundstrokes. By 19, she had already obtained 14 ATP titles. Sabatini won the US Open in 1990, defeating Steffi Graf in the final. Surprisingly, she retired when she was just 26-years-old.
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Gustavo Kuerten
Gustavo Kuerten is a former Brazilian professional tennis player who was active from 1995 to 2008. He is best known for his aggressive playing style and his signature leaping forehand. Kuerten won three French Open titles (1997, 2000, and 2001), and he obtained 20 ATP titles in his career. He was ranked world number 1 for 43 weeks in 2000 and 2001, becoming the second Latin American in history to do so, after Marcelo Ríos achieved it two years earlier.
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Juan Martín del Potro
Juan Martín del Potro, from Argentina, started his career in 2005 and retired in 2022. “Delpo” is best known for his powerful forehand and his ability to hit winners from all over the court. He won the US Open in 2009, defeating Roger Federer in the final, as well as reaching the finals of the Australian Open (2012) and the US Open (2018). Del Potro was ranked world number 4 in 2010 and 2018.
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María Bueno
María Bueno was a Brazilian professional tennis player who was active from 1959 to 1977. She is considered one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Bueno won 589 titles during her whole professional career, including 3 Wimbledon and 4 US Open titles (1959, 1963, 1964, and 1966). She was considered world number 1 in 1959, 1960, 1964, and 1966). In 1978, Bueno was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
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