Mats Wilander, the Swedish tennis legend, has reignited the long-standing discussion around recognizing Argentine tennis icon Guillermo Vilas as the rightful number one in ATP history. Despite Vilas’ record as the greatest Latin American Grand Slam singles winner, his failure to receive international recognition remains a glaring oversight in tennis history. At 73 years old, Vilas is battling a neurodegenerative disease that has kept him from public life, adding urgency to the calls for his acknowledgment.

Wilander, who held the number one ranking for 20 weeks during the late 1980s, stated that each day that passes without recognizing Vilas is an increasingly greater injustice, especially in light of the latter's health situation. The issue of Vilas’ ranking has been a contentious topic for years, and Wilander firmly believes that there is sufficient evidence to vindicate Vilas’s position at the top. His comments come as both a plea for justice in the sport and a reminder of the legacies that tennis owes to its pioneers.

The call to honor Vilas goes beyond mere recognition; it reflects a broader narrative about fairness in sports and the importance of historical accuracy. As the tennis community engages in discussions about its past, Vilas’s case serves as a compelling reminder of the athletes who paved the way yet remain unacknowledged. Recognizing him as number one would not only serve justice to a great player but also enrich the sport's history and honor its foundational figures.