Alexander Zverev becomes world number one for the first time

4th November 2026

A tennis racket and ball on a blue hard court — Photo: guys_who_shoot / Shutterstock

Alexander Zverev is the new world number one in men’s tennis, reaching the top of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career at the age of 29.

The German replaces Jannik Sinner, who had been number one since April but has not played since the Wimbledon final in July. Zverev is also guaranteed to finish 2026 as the year-end world number one.

Top of the game. Top of the world. 🔥 Alexander Zverev is officially World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Read more: Kimi Antonelli says no to number 1 after becoming F1’s youngest world champion
— ATP Tour (@atptour) @atptour

The ATP Tour confirmed Zverev as world number one

Zverev’s record-breaking rise

Alexander Zverev, world number one
🥇 The 30th man to be world number one
🎂 At 29 years and six months, the second-oldest to get there for the first time, after John Newcombe in 1974
🇩🇪 Only the second German man at the top, after Boris Becker in 1991
🏆 2026: won Roland Garros and the US Open, his first two Grand Slam titles, and reached the Wimbledon final
📊 64 wins and 16 defeats this season

Zverev said it was “very special” to feel “on the top of the world”. He first reached number two more than four years ago, and has spent years being called the best player never to win a major. That changed this season with titles in Paris and New York.

Why some say the ranking comes with a question mark

Zverev’s rise comes while the two biggest names in the sport are out injured. Sinner is just 70 points behind in second place, and Carlos Alcaraz is third. Both have long-term injuries, which has led some to say the top spot came at a convenient time, though Zverev’s two Grand Slam titles show he has earned it.

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