Marcelo Ríos is widely regarded as the greatest Chilean tennis player in history. But his career was never far from controversy.
Former world No.1 who has more Grand
Marcelo Ríos reached the pinnacle of the tennis world in the late 1990s, becoming the first South American to claim the ATP’s No. 1 ranking. The Chilean left-hander, known for his unique style both on and off the court, made history. Yet, his time at the top was often accompanied by provocative comments.
“The Chino,” as he was nicknamed, frequently voiced sharp criticism of the ATP during his playing days. He also took aim at tennis icons Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, describing them as “boring.” Despite these remarks, Ríos built an impressive résumé, with victories over greats like Andre Agassi, Carlos Moyá, and Tommy Haas.
Ríos first gained international attention when, at just 18 years old, he faced Pete Sampras in the second round of the 1994 Roland Garros. Though he lost, the match proved that his dominance in junior tennis was no fluke. The following year, he claimed his first ATP title in Bologna and went on to amass 18 career trophies before retiring in 2004.
Reaching No. 1 without a Grand Slam title
In 1998, Ríos had a remarkable season, starting with a title in Auckland and a run to the Australian Open final. He followed that up with victories at Indian Wells and Miami, losing only two sets across both tournaments. At Miami, he defeated Andre Agassi in the final to secure the ATP’s top spot.
At the time, no Latin American player had ever reached No. 1, and the closest had been Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas. Reflecting on this milestone, Ríos once remarked, “I don’t know much about Vilas. I just know he was No. 2, and I’m No. 1.”
However, Ríos’ reign at the top was short-lived. Pete Sampras regained the No. 1 ranking in April 1998, and while Ríos briefly reclaimed it in August, Sampras ended the year as the top player.
Ríos never won a Grand Slam, advancing beyond the quarterfinals only once—at the 1998 Australian Open, where he lost to Petr Korda in the final. Reflecting on his career, Ríos said in 2023, “Not winning a Grand Slam doesn’t keep me up at night. If I didn’t win one, there’s a reason. But I believe being No. 1 in the world is a greater achievement than winning a Grand Slam.”
Ríos’ loss to Korda at the 1998 Australian Open later became embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that Korda had tested positive for doping. The revelation sparked Ríos’ frustration with the ATP.
“The ATP handles these situations poorly. They give you a list with a million things you’ve never seen before,” Ríos said. “It’s very difficult. They’ve become too strict. There’s a difference between personal issues and doping to gain an advantage. What happened with Korda was about gaining an advantage.”