VIENNA : Alexander Zverev will become world number one for the first time next week after defeating Tallon Griekspoor 6-4 7-5 in the last 16 of the Vienna Open on Thursday.
The 29-year-old German, who won the French Open and US Open this season, will overtake Italy’s Jannik Sinner when the new ATP rankings are published on Monday.
Zverev will become the second German man to top the rankings after Boris Becker in 1991 and the 30th player to achieve the feat since the ATP rankings began in 1973.
His victory, sealed with an ace, was followed by an on-court ceremony attended by his team and former world number one Thomas Muster of Austria.
“It’s very special. To have the feeling to be on the top of the world is amazing,” Zverev said.
“It’s different than winning a tournament, winning a title, but it’s such a special feeling to know that the number one is going to be next to your name.”
Zverev’s rise comes after injuries disrupted the seasons of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, with the Italian ending his campaign earlier this month because of a knee problem.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, advanced in Vienna after beating Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1 7-6(11).
Zverev had previously come close to reaching number one in 2022 before suffering a serious ankle injury during his French Open semi-final against Rafa Nadal.
“I had to wait, but sometimes you’ve got to wait for the best things in life,” Zverev said.
