Alexander Zverev je na vrhu lestvice svetovnih tenisistov, vendar ne bo ostal tam dolgo.

German tennis player Alexander Zverev secured his ascent to the number one position in the world rankings on Thursday following a straight-sets victory in the round of 16 at the Vienna Open. By defeating Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5, the 29-year-old from Hamburg reached the quarterfinals, a result that guarantees he will top the Association of Tennis Professionals list when new standings are released on Monday. This achievement makes Zverev the 30th male player to hold the top spot since the ranking system was introduced in 1973. He is the second German man to reach this pinnacle, joining only Boris Becker, who held the title in 1991. The path to the summit became clear several weeks ago due to the early termination of the Italian rival Jannik Sinner’s season. Sinner, the current number one, suffered a knee injury and decided to retire from competition in early October to focus on recovery. With Sinner absent from the tour, Zverev’s rise to the top was mathematically inevitable, though he waited for the specific match point to officially claim the crown. The timing coincides with a period where both dominant forces of recent seasons, Sinner and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, have been sidelined by injuries for significant portions of the 2026 calendar. In his opening match of the tournament on Tuesday, Zverev survived a tense first-round encounter against Spain’s Martin Landaluce. That contest lasted more than three hours and required Zverev to save four match points before securing the win. On Thursday, however, the former finalist appeared far more composed. He broke Griekspoor’s serve in the very first game of the match and maintained control throughout. After holding his own service games to take a one-set lead, Zverev faced resistance in the second set, which remained tied at 5-5. He eventually seized the opportunity to break again, sealing the match with an ace. Following the final point, the atmosphere in the Viennese stadium shifted to celebration. Organizers displayed a large white number one on the court, prompting Zverev to address the crowd regarding the unusual nature of celebrating a second-round victory. He explained that he had become the world number one. His team and partner Sophia Thomalla joined him on the court for the moment. Austrian tennis legend Thomas Muster, the only player from the host nation to have ever topped the rankings, was present to honor the occasion. Approximately 9,800 spectators filled the venue for the event. Zverev described the experience as unique compared to winning tournament titles. He stated that knowing the number one rank would accompany his name in the upcoming rankings produced one of the best feelings in the world. He acknowledged that the journey required patience, noting that sometimes one must wait for the best things in life. The milestone caps what has been described as the most successful season of his career. After suffering final defeats at the US Open in 2020, the French Open in 2024, and the Australian Open in 2025, Zverev finally breached his long-standing barrier at major championships. He captured titles at the French Open and the US Open during the current cycle. Additionally, he advanced to the semifinals of the Australian Open and the final of Wimbledon, reaching deep runs in all four Grand Slam events. The shift in leadership occurs just before the remainder of the high-level season concludes. The circuit moves next to the Masters 1000 event in Paris, followed by the ATP Finals in Turin, which features the eight highest-ranked players. While Zverev holds the top spot upon its publication, analysts suggest the duration of his reign may be limited. Both Sinner and Alcaraz are expected to return to competitive play soon. Their combined dominance in previous years, including sweeping all Grand Slam titles in 2024 and 2025, indicates a likely challenge to Zverev’s status once they resume full participation. Alcaraz himself competed in Vienna on Thursday, saving four set points to defeat Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 7-6. Despite being ranked third in the world, his presence underscores the depth of competition returning to the tour. For Zverev, the immediate focus shifts to his quarterfinal match scheduled for Friday, where he faces Britain’s Arthur Fery. He enters that contest with the distinction of being the world number one, a status achieved at age 29 years and 196 days. This makes him the second-oldest player to debut at the top of the rankings, behind only Australia’s John Newcombe. The achievement stands as a culmination of years of effort, particularly given his near-miss in 2022 at the French Open, where an ankle ligament tear sustained in a semifinal against Rafael Nadal ended his season and delayed his progress toward the top.