VIENNA — Alexander Zverev’s journey to clinch another title took an unexpected turn as he was defeated by Alex de Minaur in the semifinals of the Erste Bank Open on Saturday.
De Minaur triumphed with a score of 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4), showcasing an impressive early lead of 3-0 in the final tiebreak, a victory that bolsters his aspirations for a spot in the ATP Finals next month.
Despite the loss, Zverev is set to ascend to the No. 1 position in the world rankings on Monday. This achievement marks him as the 30th player to hold the top spot and the oldest first-time No. 1 since 1974, achieving this milestone at the age of 29.
De Minaur will take on Carlos Alcaraz in the final on Sunday, following the Spaniard’s victory against Daniil Medvedev with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the other semifinal match.
