Alexander Zverev will replace Jannik Sinner as the ATP world number one on Monday after reaching the quarter-finals of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The 29-year-old German secured the top spot with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Tallon Griekspoor, becoming the 30th man to lead the rankings and the second German after Boris Becker in 1991.
Zverev's ascent caps a remarkable season in which he won two Grand Slam titles — the French Open and the US Open — and compiled a 64-16 match record. "It's been a wait but sometimes you have to wait for the best things in life," Zverev said. "I'm super happy, super thrilled — I have no words for this year."
The path to number one opened as injuries sidelined the dominant duo of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for large portions of 2026. At the start of the season, Alcaraz led with 12,050 ranking points and Sinner had 11,500, while Zverev sat third with 5,110 points. Zverev clinched the year-end number one position when Alcaraz lost in Shanghai on 12 October, but could not overtake Sinner until 2 November at the earliest. His victory over Griekspoor accelerated that timeline, making him the first player other than Sinner or Alcaraz to top the rankings since Novak Djokovic in June 2024.
Zverev acknowledged that he "maybe not" be the world's best player if both rivals were healthy and at their peak, but emphasized his efficiency in beating the opponents in front of him. He next faces British number one Arthur Fery in the Vienna quarter-finals, a rematch of their Wimbledon semi-final. Fery, 24, advanced with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over Lorenzo Musetti, saving a break deficit in the final set.
Elsewhere in Vienna, Cameron Norrie fell to Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) after serving for the match at 5-3 in the third set. Second seed Carlos Alcaraz progressed with a 6-1, 7-6 (13-11) victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili.
