Moyà’s pioneering milestone: the first No. 1 Spanish | ATP Tour

Club No. 1

Moyà’s pioneering milestone: the first No. 1 Spanish

Relive the feat of the Balearic player

March 15, 2025

Carlos Moyà stepped on an unexplored land on March 15, 1999, becoming the first Spanish player capable of reaching No. 1 of the PIF ATP Rankings. Defending the colors of a nation with great tradition in sport, the importance of Mallorcan should not be measured for its two weeks at the top of the PIF ATP Rankings.

Spaniards like Manuel Orantes, Sergi Brugero and àlex Corretja arrived at Top 3, but to the rise of Moyà al No. 1 it was a milestone that opened the way for other compatriots to follow their steps. Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are the other Spaniards that are among the 29 members of the ATP Club No. 1.

Moyà may have a brief reign in No. 1, but his presence was the result of hard work and 12 months in which he accumulated some of the best results of his career. In April 1998, with just 21 years, Carlos raised his first ATP Masters 1000 crown in Montecarlo. This milestone made him one of the favorites to win Roland Garros, although he had only added two victories in the Grand Slam Parisino between 1996-97.

Moyà fulfilled expectations in the French capital, closing the tournament hugging the Musketeer Cup. In his third participation in Roland Garros, Moyà defeated his compatriot Corretja in the final. The Balearic maintained an impeccable level that season, stepping on the semifinals of the US Open and the final in the domestic tournament of Mallorca.

Moyá also reached the final match at the Nitto ATP Finals, and was barely left to raise the title. However, he showed two advantage sleeves against Corretja, which managed to take a rematch for the three defeats suffered against Moyà that season.

In Indian Wells 1999, Moyà began his way defeating the two -time Jim Couer champion. The Spanish would make its way until the final, where it was beaten in five epic sleeves by Mark Philippoussis. Despite the defeat, Moyà added a new achievement: the World Cup No. 1, becoming the 15th player of the era open on track the top. The Spanish happened on the throne to Sampras.

Moyà was one of the three new No. 1 of that year (together with Patrick Rafter and Yevgeny Kafelnikov), a figure that remains record in the circuit. With Agassi and Sampras also present at the top throughout 1999, the brand of five No. 1 different World Cups in the same season is a record that has never been broken.