Alexander Zverev is already guaranteed to become the newest world number one; it’s now a matter of when rather than if.
Having already had opportunities to claim that title and failed, Vienna represents his latest and easiest thus far.
All he needs to do is win two matches and reach the quarter-finals.
When he eventually does ascend to the top of the world rankings, Alexander Zverev will join an elite list of players to have done so, becoming the 30th man in Open Era history to reach the pinnacle of tennis.
However, there is actually another, much shorter and more exclusive list that he will also join, which boasts legendary names like Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg.
Alexander Zverev will be just the sixth man in history to accomplish this unique feat
Many players have enjoyed hugely impressive junior careers in tennis, but gone on to struggle when it came time to translate that into senior success.
In fact, nowadays, it feels like more and more young stars are opting to head to America and compete on the college circuit before making their first foray into the professional game, such are the opportunities afforded.
How long do you think Alexander Zverev keeps the number one ranking?
He is now guaranteed to be year end number one after Carlos Alcaraz’s shock loss in Shanghai…
Alternatively, the likes of Rafael Nadal and Jannik Sinner pretty much skipped the junior circuit, preferring to fast-track their development whilst playing among the seniors from an early age.
There are plenty of options available nowadays.
However, there are also plenty of success stories from the juniors, with Zverev now one of them.
When he does become the world number one, he will be just the sixth man in history to have been the top-ranked player at both the junior and senior levels.
Others include Federer, Edberg, Lendl, Marcelo Rios and Andy Roddick.
Interestingly, Federer recently revealed the advice he had given Zverev for years and years before he finally won his maiden major title this year.
The German ended up winning the US Open not long after his Roland Garros triumph, and will finish the year as a deserved world number one, even if some argue it might be tainted due to Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner’s injury problems this year.
