Alexander Zverev was crowned year-end world number one after a shock defeat by Carlos Alcaraz at the Shanghai Masters

Alexander Zverev (Image: IANS) Alexander Zverev capped off a breakout season by settling into the year-end world No. 1 ranking for the first time in his career, becoming the oldest player to reach the milestone for the first time. Germany’s historic achievement was confirmed on Monday after Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock defeat to Belgium’s Ziza Bergs at the Shanghai Masters, while Jannik Sinner’s season-ending knee injury has already dented his challenge for year-end honours.The 29-year-old Zverev is currently ranked No. 2 in the ATP rankings but is confident of finishing the 2026 season at the top of the year-end rankings. The milestone comes on the heels of a remarkable campaign in which he won his first Grand Slam titles at the French Open and US Open.“It’s been a fantastic season for me, winning in Paris and New York, and to know that I’m going to finish the year at the top of the rankings is just a dream come true,” Zverev said.“So much work and effort has gone into achieving this goal, especially coming back from an ankle injury,” he added.

The defeat of Alcaraz in Shanghai sealed Zverev’s historic achievement

Zverev’s year-end No. 1 status was confirmed after Bergs beat Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6(4) in the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday. The Belgian put in a composed performance to secure the biggest win of his career and progress to the fourth round.The result ended Alcaraz’s hopes of closing the year-end ranking gap and ensured Zverev would finish the season on top. The German became the first player from his country to achieve the 1st honor at the end of the year.Zverev’s success is particularly significant given his previous near misses at the top of the game. He finished the 2024 season as world number two, but success in 2026 took him to the top of men’s tennis.

Sinner’s injury opens the door for Zverev

The absence of Jannik Sinner was a major factor in the battle for places at the end of the year. The Italian, who remains the current world number one, announced earlier this month that he will miss the rest of the 2026 season due to persistent inflammation in his right knee.Sinner has not played since defeating Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July. His decision to prioritize recovery ruled him out of the remaining tournaments, allowing Zverev to consolidate his position in the fight for the top spot at the end of the year.However, the German’s season was defined by his own achievements. After years of coming close to Grand Slam glory, he finally broke through at Roland Garros, defeating Flavio Cobolli in a five-set final to lift his first major trophy.He followed up that triumph with the US Open title, defeating Ben Shelton in four sets to become a two-time Grand Slam champion in the same season.

Zverev’s remarkable comeback from ankle injury

Zverev’s rise to the top has also been a story of perseverance. At the 2022 French Open, he suffered a severe right ankle injury during his semi-final against Rafael Nadal and had to leave the court in a wheelchair. The injury disrupted his progress and raised questions about his return to the top level. Four years later, Zverev not only claimed two Grand Slam titles, but also secured the most prestigious scoring milestone of his career.