Zverev is named the new world No. 1 tennis player
The German became the 30th tennis player in history to reach the top of the ATP rankings. "It's a completely different feeling. It's a team effort," he said.
Alexander Zverev, ranked No. 1 in the ATP rankings
After many years of sacrifice, of having to overcome the difficulties that life throws at you, it's finally here. Alexander Zverev officially became the best tennis player in the world, climbing to the top spot in the ATP rankings after having the best season of his professional career.
A year in which, among other successes, he claimed the titles at Roland Garros and the U.S. Open. The only two Grand Slams he has won so far.
This Monday, at the start of the ATP Masters 1000 in Paris, Zverev received the honor recognizing him as the world's best tennis player, having overtaken Italy's Jannik Sinner in the rankings.
"To become world No. 1, you have to have the best possible season over the course of an entire year; it's a completely different feeling. After a Grand Slam, the week ends and you know you've won, you can celebrate. Here, I get the impression that you have to keep working every day," said Zverev.
The German wanted to dedicate this honor to his team, which includes his father, Alexander Sr., and his brother Mischa, both former professional tennis players.
"It's a team effort. We've been together for many, many years. The truth is, I don't usually change teams. My team has been the same for over 10 years. Achieving this is a completely collective effort. We all work incredibly hard, and a big thank you to everyone who's been there," he said.
An example of resilience
At 29, Zverev achieved what he'd wanted so badly since the start of his career. Along the way, he had to deal with certain challenges. One of them is type 1 diabetes, which he was diagnosed with at age four and which requires him to monitor his blood sugar levels during matches. He founded the Alexander Zverev Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and inspiring children with the same condition as him.
However, the hardest setback to come to terms with and overcome happened four years ago. During the semifinals of the 2022 French Open, Zverev suffered a ankle ligament tear that sidelined him for months. His subsequent return to the top of the ATP rankings demonstrated extraordinary mental resilience, as he once again began competing for the most coveted trophies on the calendar.
In addition, he had to face the best versions of the "Big Three," the greatest trio in tennis history, comprising Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who practically monopolized all the titles while Zverev tried to win one of them.
With this, Zverev becomes the second German to reach No. 1 in the ATP rankings, after Boris Becker, and the first German to finish a season at the top.
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