Zverev Takes Tennis No. 1 After Two Major Wins
The German star reaches the summit of the rankings, ending a four-year wait and becoming the oldest first-time leader in half a century.
By Malik Salazar ·
Alexander Zverev claimed the No. 1 ranking in men's tennis on Monday, a position he has held for more than four years after reaching No. 2. The move caps a season in which he won the French Open and the U.S. Open, ending his streak of Grand Slam final losses.
Zererev now holds a 65-17 win-loss record for the year. He is also guaranteed to finish the year as the world's top player. His latest titles broke his previous pattern of losing three major finals, including a 2020 U.S. Open defeat to Dominic Thiem after a two-set lead.
The 30-year-old is the oldest player to reach the top spot for the first time in over 50 years. John Newcombe was the last to do so in 1974 at age 30. Zverev is also the second German man to hold the No. 1 ranking, following Boris Becker.
Speaking in Paris, where he is preparing for the Paris Masters, Zverev described the achievement as a special day. He noted that Paris has been a difficult place for him in the past, but winning his first Grand Slam there and becoming world No. 1 changed that history.
Jannik Sinner, who has held the No. 1 spot since April 13, dropped to second place. Sinner ended his season three weeks ago due to right knee inflammation. Carlos Alcaraz sits in third after returning to full fitness and winning the Vienna title on Sunday.
Zverev said he looks forward to Sinner and Alcaraz returning to full health to compete. He expressed confidence in his ability to play on grass, a surface where he previously struggled, and stated he wants to compete in all four Grand Slams.
The ranking update also saw 20-year-old Spanish player Rafael Jodar rise to No. 10. Jodar set a tour record for the fastest rise from debut to the top 10, taking 287 days compared to the previous mark of 490 days held by Gustavo Kuerten.
