Alexander Zverev to become world No. 1 for first time on Monday after Vienna victory, ending long wait for historic milestone

Alexander Zverev has spent years among the leading players in men's tennis, reaching Grand Slam finals and collecting major titles without ever occupying the sport's most coveted ranking position. That wait is finally over after his victory in Vienna, although the milestone carries particular significance for a player whose previous attempt to reach the summit ended with a serious injury and months away from competition.Zverev secures world No. 1 ranking after beating GriekspoorAlexander Zverev secured the world No. 1 ranking for the first time after defeating Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5 in the last 16 of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Thursday, October 29. The victory guaranteed that the 29-year-old German would replace Jannik Sinner at the top when the ATP rankings are published on Monday, November 2, regardless of his subsequent results in the tournament.Zverev sealed the match with an ace, completing a performance that also confirmed the date on which he would officially become the world's highest-ranked men's singles player. His elevation had already been assured by the end of the season, but the Vienna result established exactly when the change would take place.Speaking after the victory, Zverev struggled to hide his excitement, describing the achievement as something distinct from winning another tournament or championship."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."A ceremony followed on court, with Zverev joined by members of his team and Thomas Muster, the former Austrian tennis player who remains the only man from Austria to have topped the men's rankings.Germany gets its second men's world No. 1Zverev will become the 30th different man to occupy the top position since the ATP rankings were introduced in 1973, joining an exclusive group that includes some of the most celebrated names in tennis history.He will also become only the second German man to reach No. 1, following Boris Becker, who first achieved the position in 1991. The milestone makes Zverev the oldest first-time world No. 1 since Australia's John Newcombe reached the summit aged 30 in 1974, just a year after the rankings system was established.The achievement comes during what Zverev has described as an exceptional season, having won both the French Open and the US Open. Those victories have helped establish him as one of the leading figures in men's tennis, although his rise to the top has also coincided with interruptions to the campaigns of his principal rivals.Injuries to Sinner and Alcaraz influence the rankings raceZverev's elevation comes after Sinner announced in early October that he would end his season prematurely because of inflammation in his right knee. The Italian, who previously occupied the No. 1 position, will therefore be unable to defend his ranking points during the remaining tournaments of the campaign.Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked third, has also dealt with injury-related interruptions, although the Spaniard was competing in Vienna on Thursday. Earlier that day, the six-time Grand Slam champion defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 7-6(11), saving four set points in the second set to progress.The absence of Sinner from the remainder of the season and Alcaraz's disrupted campaign have helped create the opening for Zverev to reach the summit. The German has acknowledged that circumstances surrounding his rivals have played a part in the timing of his achievement, particularly given their dominance at the biggest tournaments over recent seasons.Sinner and Alcaraz had collectively won every Grand Slam title during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, making them the dominant forces in men's tennis before their respective physical setbacks.Zverev finally completes a journey interrupted by injuryThe world No. 1 ranking carries additional significance because Zverev came close to achieving it in 2022, only for a serious injury to derail his campaign at the French Open.During his semi-final against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, the German suffered torn ankle ligaments and was forced to withdraw from the match. The injury subsequently kept him out for the remainder of the season, interrupting a period in which he had been challenging for the sport's biggest honours.Four years later, Zverev has finally reached the position that appeared within his grasp before that setback. Reflecting on the time it took to achieve the milestone, he acknowledged that the wait had made the moment particularly rewarding."I had to wait, but sometimes you've got to wait for the best things in life," Zverev said."So it is how it is. I'm super happy, super thrilled. This year, I mean, I have no words for this year. Again, I'm just thankful. I'm happy and all of the above."At 29, Zverev will officially begin his first spell as world No. 1 when the new rankings are released on Monday, completing a career milestone that had remained beyond his reach despite years spent among the sport's leading contenders.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.