German tennis player Alexander Zverev has officially secured his position as the men’s world number one after defeating Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor 6-4 7-5 to advance to the quarter-finals at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
The win ensures the 29-year-old will replace Italy’s Jannik Sinner at the top of the ATP rankings on Monday. Zverev, who had already secured the year-end top spot after Carlos Alcaraz lost in Shanghai on 12 October, becomes only the second German man to hold the world number one ranking following Boris Becker in 1991. He is also the second oldest player to reach the ranking’s summit for the first time.
A Career-Best Season
Zverev’s rise to the top follows a remarkable year in which he claimed two Grand Slam titles—the French Open and the US Open—and compiled a record of 64 victories in 80 matches. Reacting to the milestone, Zverev said, “It’s been a wait but sometimes you have to wait for the best things in life,” before adding, “I’m super happy, super thrilled – I have no words for this year.”
At the beginning of 2026, Alcaraz led the rankings with 12,050 points, with Sinner close behind on 11,500 points. Zverev was third with 5,110 points, leaving a massive gap to the top two players who had combined to win eight consecutive Grand Slam titles in 2024 and 2025. However, injury layoffs for both Sinner and Alcaraz provided an opening for Zverev. He captured both of his major titles during their absences, notably not facing a top-10 player at the US Open until his final against Ben Shelton.
Zverev admitted he would “maybe not” be the top player if both rivals had stayed fully healthy and played at their best, but his consistency allowed him to become the first player other than Sinner and Alcaraz to lead the rankings since Novak Djokovic in June 2024.
Tournament Progress in Vienna
Zverev will next face British number one Arthur Fery in the quarter-finals in a rematch of their Wimbledon semi-final. The 24-year-old Fery defeated world number 26 Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 5-7 6-4, overcoming a 4-2 deficit in the final set and battling through apparent cramp to record his biggest win by ranking on the regular ATP Tour.
In other action in Vienna, Britain’s Cameron Norrie fell just short of an upset against world number five Daniil Medvedev, losing 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1). Norrie had served for the match at 5-3, 40-30 in the deciding set before Medvedev saved match point and rallied to win. Meanwhile, second seed Alcaraz secured his place in the next round with a 6-1 7-6 (13-11) victory over Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili.
