In the history of the Open Era, there have only ever been 29 men who have become the world number one. Alexander Zverev is now destined to be the 30th.
Following Jannik Sinner’s decision to end his season early, and after Carlos Alcaraz’s five-month absence from the sport, the German has taken full advantage of this power vacuum.
He has won two Grand Slam titles and reached the final of another, highlighting his supreme consistency across an arduous campaign for his biggest rivals.
However, not everyone is convinced by his ascension to the apex of the sport.
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…
Daniil Medvedev has said whether he thinks Zverev deserves to be world number one, whilst Alcaraz has insisted he is happy for Zverev, and that it is ‘well deserved’.
Speaking with Tennis TV, the 28-year-old has now given his thoughts on the title he is destined to inherit.
Alexander Zverev reacts as he closes in on becoming the new world number one
Firstly, he began with a word on the Vienna Open, where he will play his opening-round match later today.
Last year, he lost in the final to Sinner in a dramatic three-set affair. This year, he will hope to go one better.
Asked if a return to a German-speaking country like this can revitalise him after such a long season, Alexander Zverev first joked: “Yeah, if I don’t have to talk to all of you guys then maybe! [laughs].”
He continued: “Just playing tennis is a lot of fun here, because it’s a German-speaking region. I love to play in German-speaking regions. I feel like the fans are always extremely supportive when I play. So, I enjoy it; the atmosphere in the stadium is always very good, and I like the city.
“I hope it’s gonna be a fun week.”
Then, discussing the world number one spot, and whether there was a specific moment where he felt this ambition shift into the realms of possibility, Zverev added: “I don’t know. It’s not something that you think of like that. I think it’s more, you watch, you know, the Australian Open final, or French Open final, and be like, okay, I want to be there, I want to play in that, and I want to win those trophies.
“That happened quite early because I was always travelling with my brother to big tournaments, and I was like, I want to play here one day, I want to win and feel like I’m one of the best players in the world.
“And, I think being number one is such a huge honour because it means you didn’t just win one tournament. It means that you’ve been playing consistently the best tennis in the world for an entire year, whoever has the best season in the world for an entire year.
“And I think that is one of the most special things that you can do in our sport.”
Zverev needs to win just two matches here in Vienna to confirm himself as the new world number one. He will face Spanish talent Martin Landaluce in the first round.
Even if he falls early in the Austrian capital, the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals represent two more chances for him to make that final step towards sporting immortality.
