LONDON — In a triumphant moment for the world of tennis, Alexander Zverev has ascended to the No. 1 ranking in men’s tennis as of Monday, a fitting accolade for a remarkable season that saw him claim his status as a two-time Grand Slam champion.
Zverev’s journey to the top was highlighted by his victory over Flavio Cobolli at the French Open in June, marking his fourth appearance in a major final, and his impressive triumph against Ben Shelton to secure the US Open title at Flushing Meadows this September.
These victories have silenced the critics who once deemed him “the greatest player to never win a Grand Slam.” This year, the 29-year-old German also made it to the Wimbledon final, where he was edged out by Jannik Sinner, in addition to reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open.
With this achievement, Zverev becomes the 30th male player in history to reach the No. 1 rank, and notably the oldest to do so for the first time in over five decades. He now trails only John Newcombe, who reached the pinnacle at the age of 30 in 1974.
“The wait was long,” Zverev remarked, recalling his journey to the top more than four years after initially reaching No. 2. “But sometimes, the best things in life require patience. I’m incredibly happy and excited.”
Beyond his two Grand Slam titles, Zverev’s accolades also include two ATP Finals trophies, an Olympic gold medal in singles, and a tally of seven Masters 1000 titles. His impressive win-loss record this year stands at 65-17.
Zverev is now proudly the second German man ever to achieve the No. 1 ranking, following in the footsteps of the legendary Boris Becker.
Following Zverev’s rise, Jannik Sinner, who held the top spot since April 13, has slipped to second place, just ahead of Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner had announced the conclusion of his season three weeks prior due to knee inflammation.
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of four, Zverev is poised to make his debut as the world No. 1 at the upcoming Paris Masters this week.
In other noteworthy news from the rankings, 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar has made incredible strides, climbing to No. 10 just a year after his debut at the Australian Open. He has set a record for the swiftest rise to the Top 10 in just 287 days, surpassing Gustavo Kuerten’s previous mark of 490 days.
However, Zverev’s journey to the top has not been without controversy, as he faced accusations of physical abuse from two ex-girlfriends.
One accusation from 2020 was ultimately resolved through an agreement facilitated by German prosecutors and attorneys for Zverev and his former partner, while an ATP Tour investigation into another case concluded in January 2023, citing insufficient evidence.
