Arévalo asks to join the exclusive list of Hispanics with multiple Grand Slam titles | ATP Tour

Roland Garros

Arévalo asks to join the list of Hispanics with multiple Grand Slam titles

The Salvadoran will play the Roland Garros final on Saturday

June 07, 2024

Only six tennis players from Hispanic countries have won at least two Grand Slam titles in doubles in the Open Era (since 1968).

The exclusive list is made up of: the Mexican Raúl Ramírez (3), the Spaniards Emilio Sánchez (3) and Sergio Casal (2), the Colombians Robert Farah (2) and Juan Sebastián Cabal (2), and the Ecuadorian Andrés Gómez (2 ). With the exception of Casal, all of them at some point led the individual doubles ranking created in 1976.

This group, however, is very close to growing this Saturday regarding the final of the modality at Roland Garros (see schedule). The Salvadoran Marcelo Arévalo, teammate of the Croatian Matic Pavic, will play the final against the Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, eleventh seeded in the tournament. The two teams are seeking their first Grand Slam title.

Vavassori will be the only one who will be looking, on a personal level, for his first championship trophy at this level. Bolelli (with Fognini) won Australia 2015, Pavic won Australia 2018 (with Marach), US Open 2020 (with Soares) and Wimbledon 2021 (with Mektic); while Arévalo is the only one of the four who already knows what it is to win Roland Garros.

The 33-year-old Salvadoran did it in 2022, partnering with the Dutchman Jean Julien Rojer, and after beating Dodig/Krajicek in the final. At that time, Arévalo became the first Central American to win a tournament of this category. And, in large part because of that title, he ended up rising to No. 5 in the world later in the year, a career-high in the singles doubles ranking.

A win this Saturday would elevate the current No. 13 to No. 7. And Pavic, No. 10 today, would move to No. 8 from Monday. In addition, he would consecrate them as champions for the third time this year (also in Geneva and Hong Kong). While a title for the Italians, champions this season in Buenos Aires, would translate on Monday to Vavassori as the new No. 8, and to Bolelli as the new No. 9.

The picture is different in the Race to Turin, which determines the eight duos qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals in November. The Italians would rise to No. 1 with the title; the Salvadoran and the Croatian, to No. 2.

Arévalo and Pavic have won the two previous duels between both teams, recently played in the quarterfinals in Monte Carlo and in the semifinals in Rome.

Did you know…?
Mate Pavic seeks to be the first Croatian in history and the No. 22 player in the Open Era to win every Grand Slam at least once (Australia, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open).