VIENNA — Alexander Zverev suffered an upset defeat against Alex de Minaur in the semifinals of the Erste Bank Open on Saturday, falling 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) just days before claiming the world’s top tennis ranking.
Semifinal Clash and ATP Finals Hopes
De Minaur secured the victory by building an early 3-0 lead in the deciding tiebreak. The hard-fought win significantly boosts the Australian player’s chances of qualifying for the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals scheduled for next month.
Ranking Milestone and Upcoming Final
Despite the loss, Zverev is set to replace Jannik Sinner as the No. 1 ranked player on Monday. The German competitor will become the 30th player in history to hold the top ranking and the oldest first-time No. 1 since 1974 at the age of 29.
De Minaur will advance to the tournament final on Sunday to face Carlos Alcaraz, who earned his spot by defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the other semifinal match.
