Alexander Zverev’s 2026 season just keeps getting better. Having already broken through to win his first major at Roland Garros – on his 40th attempt – the German reached two more major finals in 2026, and won his second major title at the US Open.
On Thursday in Vienna, thanks to his 64th victory of the season, Zverev locked up the No.1 ranking for the first time. Zverev’s 6-4, 7-5 win over Tallon Griekspoor means that the 29-year-old will officially rise to No.1 when Monday’s ATP rankings are released.
Zverev will become the second-oldest player to reach No.1 for the first time, and the 30th player in history to hold the ATP’s No.1 ranking.
“I had to wait,” Zverev said. “Sometimes you have to wait for the best things in life.”
With Jannik Sinner out of action for the rest of the year, the German is already assured of becoming the year-end No.1 as well.
“To have the feeling to be on the top of the world is amazing,” Zverev said. “It is different than winning a tournament or a title, but it’s such a special feeling to know that the No. 1 is going to be next to your name when the new rankings come out.”
During a post-match celebration of his achievement, Zverev addressed the crowd in German and paid tribute to the team that has been by his side throughout most of his career.
“I wouldn’t have achieved any of this without the people who are sitting in my box right now. Because we are a team. We’ve been on tour together for almost 14 years and we’ve experienced everything together.”
Zverev, who is 64-16 on the season, is the second German to reach No.1 – the first was Boris Becker.
“I’ve had more or less the same team since the beginning of my career,” he said in German on court. “I’m not someone who changes a lot of things. And of course, this achievement isn’t just mine. It belongs to the entire team. To my father, my fitness trainer, my physio, and everyone who is always traveling with me.
“It makes it even more special to celebrate it here in Vienna, because it’s a German-speaking country, and it’s one of my absolute favorite stadiums, because I always feel that I have 100 percent support here.”
The top seed will continue his journey against Arthur Fery in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Brit topped Lorenzo Musetti in the biggest upset of the day, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
0 comments