Alexander Zverev became the 30th official world number one on Monday.
Zverev snatched the top spot from Jannik Sinner after defeating Tallon Griekspoor in the Vienna Open round of 16 last week.
Zverev is now set to compete in the Paris Masters – his first tournament as world number one.
With Zverev assuming the top spot, let’s take a look back at how some of tennis’ greatest players performed upon achieving world number one status.
Novak Djokovic won the Canadian Open
Djokovic claimed the world number one ranking from Rafael Nadal after defeating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2011 Wimbledon semi-finals.
How would you feel if Novak Djokovic got a wildcard to the ATP Finals?
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“They don’t give you a lot of chances to become number one,” Djokovic said afterwards with a smile. “I guess you need to lose only one match in seven months to get there.”
The Serb went on to win his first title at the All England Club, beating Nadal in the final.
Djokovic carried his excellent form to Montreal, defeating Nikolay Davydenko, Marin Cilic, Gael Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish en route to the title.
In securing the title, Djokovic became the first player to win five Masters 1000 events [since the format alteration in 2009].
“History-making, of course it’s special,” Djokovic said after beating Fish in the final. “Of course, it’s an honour and privilege to be part of the history of the sport that I love and that I play.”
Rafael Nadal lost to Andy Murray at the US Open
Nadal achieved the world number one ranking after winning gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The Spaniard, who defeated Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez in the gold-medal match, overtook Roger Federer to claim the top spot.
“That year [2008], Novak started to play so well. For me it was another tough rival, so I thought, well, I have been there [at the top level], but I didn’t achieve the world number one. Now another great player is coming, so maybe I will never be No. 1,” Nadal told the ATP in 2025.
“So for me that’s why it was so important for me to achieve that. I believe that I deserved it after having a very high level almost in every week during three and a half years.”
After assuming the number one ranking, Nadal competed in the US Open.
The Spaniard defeated Sam Querrey and Mardy Fish en route to the semi-finals, before losing to Andy Murray in four sets.
Roger Federer helped Swiss win their Davis Cup tie
Federer debuted as world number one after defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the 2004 Australian Open semi-finals.
Federer went on to win the title in Melbourne, beating Marat Safin in the final.
“I’m happy to have had a great start now to the season, and to finally be number one,” Federer said at the time. “And it does make me feel really strange.”
The Swiss star then represented his nation in their Davis Cup match against Romania. Federer defeated Victor Hanescu and Andrei Pavel as Switzerland secured a 3-2 victory.
Federer then travelled to Rotterdam, where he defeated Arnaud Clement and Andrei Pavel before losing to British player Tim Henman.
