Alexander Zverev to Finish 2026 as World No. 1

Alexander Zverev has secured the top spot in the world tennis rankings at the end of 2026 following Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit from the Shanghai Masters. The 29-year-old German will become the 20th player in history to finish a season as world No. 1 since the ATP rankings were introduced in 1973. The Hamburg-born player will achieve the feat nine seasons after first breaking into the world’s top 10.

Zverev has enjoyed the strongest season of his career, winning his first two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and the US Open. The German also reached the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Jannik Sinner, and made the semi-finals in Australia. With 25 match wins at Grand Slam tournaments in 2026, he has shown impressive consistency on the biggest stage.

The prolonged absences of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner due to injuries played a significant role in the battle for the top spot. The Spaniard missed four and a half months of the season, while the Italian suffered a knee injury and was unable to defend his position at the top of the rankings. Although Zverev did not record a win against either of his two main rivals this year, he accumulated enough points to secure the historic honour.