Sports

Zverev Claims World No.1 After Vienna Victory

By Jonathan Jurejko

Alexander Zverev secured the ATP world number one ranking after defeating Tallon Griekspoor 6‑4, 7‑5 in the quarter‑finals of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The 29‑year‑old German, who has already won two Grand Slam titles this year and won 64 of his 80 matches, moved to the top of the rankings on Monday. Zverev is the second German to reach the pinnacle of the men’s tour, following Boris Becker in 1991. He noted that the wait has been worth it, saying, “It’s been a wait but sometimes you have to wait for the best things in life. I’m super happy, super thrilled – I have no words for this year.”

At the start of the year it seemed unlikely that anyone other than Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz would become world number one. The dominant duo missed large parts of the season through injury, opening the door for Zverev to take over. Going into 2026, Alcaraz led the rankings with 12,050 points, followed by Sinner on 11,500. Zverev, then ranked third, had 5,110 points – a gap that highlighted the duopoly’s dominance. His two major triumphs came without facing Sinner or Alcaraz, and he did not meet a top‑10 opponent until beating Ben Shelton in the New York final.

Zverev’s victory over Griekspoor made him the first man other than Sinner and Alcaraz to top the rankings since Novak Djokovic in June 2024. He acknowledged that he might not be the world’s best if both rivals were healthy and at their peak, but he praised his season as the greatest of his career.

In the same tournament, British number one Arthur Fery reached the quarter‑finals, where he will face Zverev. Fery, 24, had an unexpected run to the Wimbledon semi‑finals and recently defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 6‑4, 5‑7, 6‑4 in Vienna.

Other notable matches included Cameron Norrie’s loss to world number five Daniil Medvedev in the last‑16, and second seed Carlos Alcaraz’s 6‑1, 7‑6 (13‑11) win over Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili.