Alexander Zverev has guaranteed he will overtake Jannik Sinner at the top of the ATP rankings and become world number one for the first time, following a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Tallon Griekspoor in the round of 16 at the Vienna Open on Thursday.
The 29-year-old, whose season has been defined by titles at the French Open and US Open, will become Germany’s second men’s number one after Boris Becker, who first reached the summit in 1991, when the new rankings are published on Monday.
An Ace to Seal History
Zverev closed out the match with an ace, triggering an on-court ceremony where he was joined by his team and by Thomas Muster, the only Austrian to have topped the rankings, to mark the achievement.
“[It is] very special. To have the feeling to be on top of the world is amazing,” said Zverev, who will become the 30th man to hold the top ranking since it was introduced in 1973.
“It’s different than winning a tournament, winning a title, but it’s such a special feeling to know that the number one is going to be next to your name when the new rankings come out.”
Injuries to Rivals Ease the Path
Zverev would be the first to acknowledge that injuries to Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who between them swept every Grand Slam title across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, smoothed his route to the top.
Sinner chose to end his season in early October to recover from a knee injury. World number three Alcaraz, meanwhile, was in action in Vienna earlier on Thursday, saving four set points to defeat Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 7-6(11).
A Long-Awaited Ascent
Zverev came close to claiming the number one ranking in 2022 at the French Open, but tore ankle ligaments in his semi-final against Rafael Nadal and missed the remainder of the season.
“I had to wait, but sometimes you’ve got to wait for the best things in life,” Zverev added. “So it is how it is. I’m super happy, super thrilled.
“This year, I mean, I have no words for this year. Again, I’m just thankful. I’m happy and all of the above.”
