Zverev finishes 2026 as world number one

Alexander Zverev ended the 2026 season as world number one after Carlos Alcaraz's unexpected defeat in the Shanghai Masters. The German player was set to surpass the current world number one, Jannik Sinner, who had to withdraw for the remainder of the year due to a knee injury. Alcaraz still had a theoretical chance to stop Zverev's ascent until he was defeated 7-5 7-6 (7-4) by Belgium's Zizou Bergs in the third round on Monday.

Zverev expressed his delight, stating, "It’s been a fantastic season for me. Knowing that I will finish the year on top of the rankings is just a dream come true." After losing in three major finals, Zverev claimed the first Grand Slam title of his career at the French Open in June and continued his success with a victory at the US Open last month. He capitalized on the injury setbacks faced by both Alcaraz and Sinner, the two players who dominated the ATP Tour in the previous two seasons, leading him to become the world's top player.

Zverev cannot officially bypass Sinner until November 2 at the earliest. He will make history as the first German man to conclude the year as number one and the oldest player to reach this milestone for the first time. After a severe ankle injury sustained during the 2022 French Open semi-finals, which sidelined him for seven months, Zverev returned to the sport's upper tiers, maintaining a top-four ranking continuously since March 2024.

He remarked, "So much work and effort have been put into achieving this goal, especially after coming back from the ankle injury. I look forward to finishing the season in style." At the beginning of 2026, it seemed unlikely that anyone other than Sinner or Alcaraz would finish as world number one. Alcaraz entered the year leading the rankings with 12,050 points, followed closely by Sinner with 11,500 points, illustrating the gap to the rest of the competitors, with Zverev accumulating 5,110 points.

As the season approached its conclusion, Zverev accomplished what many considered impossible. While it is undeniable that he benefited from both Sinner and Alcaraz being absent for significant periods, he secured his Grand Slam titles without facing either player. He noted that he might not be the best player if his rivals were healthy and at their best. Nonetheless, he defeated the competition he faced to achieve a remarkable season that once seemed unattainable for his career.

Alcaraz, despite making an encouraging comeback from a wrist injury that had sidelined him for nearly five months, struggled in his match against Bergs, attributing it to his lack of form: "Today wasn't a good match from my side. I didn't feel good," he admitted, while acknowledging Bergs' excellent serving. Alcaraz mentioned that negative thoughts filled his mind post-match, but he hoped to reflect on the positives eventually. Bergs, displaying remarkable composure, advanced to face American Tommy Paul in the last 16, and Zverev remains in the tournament as one of the few remaining top-eight seeds.