Zverev secures first world No. 1 ranking with Vienna win

Alexander Zverev has secured the world No. 1 ranking for the first time, beating Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals in Vienna. The 29-year-old German will replace Jannik Sinner when the rankings are published on 2 November.

The victory adds another milestone to a season in which Zverev won his first two Grand Slam titles, at the French Open and US Open. He has won 64 of his 80 matches and reached 13 tour quarter-finals, more than any other player this season. Against Griekspoor, his serving helped make the difference: he won 90% of the points played on his first serve.

There is important context to his rise. Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz missed substantial parts of the season through injury, and Zverev faced neither during his two major-title runs. Zverev himself acknowledged that he might not be the best player if both rivals were healthy and playing at their peak.

He will nevertheless join a rare group as the 30th man to hold the ATP’s top ranking, and the first German since Boris Becker in 1991. “It is different than winning a tournament or a title,” Zverev said, describing the special feeling of knowing No. 1 would appear beside his name.