Something Boris Becker never managed, Alexander Zverev has done.
The 29-year-old officially became the ATP’s new world No. 1 on Monday, 2 November 2026, and is already assured of ending the year there. Becker rose to the top of the rankings in 1991 but never finished a calendar season as world No. 1, leaving Zverev as the first German man to carry the year-end crown.
He is only the 20th player to finish a season as world No. 1 since the computer rankings began in 1973, and the oldest first-time holder of that honour at 29 years and 217 days when the rankings close on 23 November, passing marks previously set by Andre Agassi and Andy Murray.
The climb was secured in Shanghai, where Belgium’s Zizou Bergs beat Carlos Alcaraz in October and locked Zverev past Jannik Sinner mathematically. The confirmation came in Vienna, where Zverev reached the quarterfinals.
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Roland Garros, four years on
Court Philippe-Chatrier has been the pivot of Zverev’s career. In June 2022, he tore lateral ligaments in his right ankle while chasing a Rafael Nadal forehand in the semifinal and was wheeled off the court in tears.
Four years later, the same court delivered his first Grand Slam. Zverev beat Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in a final that ran four hours and 16 minutes on 7 June 2026, closing one of the longer loops in modern tennis.
He described it himself on court.
“This court is so special to me in so many ways. I have had the best moments of my life on this court and the worst moment of my life on these courts,” Zverev told the ATP.
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“I was playing in the corner four years ago over there with seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones.”
A second trophy in three months
New York finished the double. On 14 September, Zverev beat American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 to win the US Open, becoming only the fourth man in the Open Era to claim his first two majors in the same calendar year.
In between, he lost the Wimbledon final to Sinner, which is why the two have swapped positions at the top only now rather than in July.
“On top of the world”
Zverev’s reaction after Vienna was quiet for a player who had come through years at the top of the game and a long chase for a first Grand Slam.
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“It is very special. To have the feeling of being on top of the world is amazing,” Zverev told Tennis365.
“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.”
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