Edberg, who had recently won his second Wimbledon title, had been striving for the top spot since becoming world No 2 in 1987. Although Lendl had kept the top spot out of reach, Edberg finally reached No 1 and held the position for 24 consecutive weeks and a total of 72 weeks. The players involved were Stefan Edberg and Brad Gilbert.
Stefan Edberg, a three-time Grand Slam winner, was born in 1966. Despite a tragic incident early in his career, he continued to excel in tennis. He won his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 1985 and successfully defended his title in 1987. He added a Wimbledon title in 1988 after defeating Boris Becker in a memorable final. In 1990, Edberg reclaimed the Wimbledon crown and set his sights on becoming world No 1.
Brad Gilbert, known for his tactical prowess, turned pro in 1982 and reached a career-high ranking of No 4 in early 1990. His best Grand Slam results were two quarter-final appearances, and he won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympic Games.
The Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati hosted a prestigious tournament that became part of the ATP Tour Super 9 category in 1990. Edberg arrived in Cincinnati aiming to become world No 1 for the first time.
In the final against Gilbert, Edberg displayed classic serve-and-volley tennis, winning convincingly to secure the top ranking. Despite Gilbert’s admission of defeat, Edberg celebrated his achievement with a bottle of champagne.
Following his victory in Cincinnati, Edberg continued his winning streak before suffering an early exit at the US Open. He finished the season as world No 1 but was defeated in the Masters Cup final by Andre Agassi.
Edberg would go on to claim two more Grand Slam titles and spend a total of 72 weeks as world No 1. Gilbert transitioned to coaching, leading Andre Agassi to the No 1 ranking and becoming a renowned TV commentator.
