Alexander Zverev clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking yesterday to cap a breakout year in which he won his first two Grand Slam titles.
Helped by a season-ending injury to Jannik Sinner, the 29-year-old Zverev will become the oldest player to achieve the year-end honor for the first time, the ATP Tour announced.
Zverev is currently No. 2 but will overtake No. 1 Sinner before the season ends next month. The first possible date that Zverev could become No. 1 is Nov. 2 while he is mathematically certain of the top spot by the season’s final rankings on Nov. 23.
Zverev became assured of finishing No. 1 when No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz was beaten by Zizou Bergs at the Shanghai Masters.
Zverev won the French Open and U.S. Open titles this year and also reached the Australian Open semifinals and the Wimbledon final.
Before this year, his best Grand Slam results were three finals.
Zverev is next due to play Alexander Bublik in Shanghai today.
Sinner, who hasn’t played since beating Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July, announced last week that he is sitting out the rest of the season due to inflammation in his right knee.
In 2024, Zverev finished as year-end No. 2 for the first time.
Zverev’s ascension to the top ranking comes after two of his ex-girlfriends accused him of physical abuse.
One case was resolved following an agreement between German prosecutors, lawyers for Zverev and his former partner. The ATP Tour investigated another case and in January 2023 concluded there was insufficient evidence.-AP
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