Greg Rusedski believes Alexander Zverev has a strong chance of surpassing Jannik Sinner to become the world number one in tennis by the end of the year. Zverev has had a remarkable season, winning his first two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and the US Open, which positions him closer to his goal of topping the ATP rankings.
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Currently, there are fewer than 2,000 points separating Zverev from Sinner, who has been unable to compete in recent weeks due to a knee injury. Rusedski noted that if Sinner does not recover in time for the upcoming Asian tournaments, Zverev could close the gap significantly. He emphasized that if Zverev maintains his consistency, he could potentially overtake Sinner in the rankings.
In Rusedski's podcast, he stated, "In my opinion and from my perspective, Zverev probably should finish as the number one in the world, but he will need to play well at the end of the season. He still needs about 3,500 to 4,500 points to reach the top. He has a 700-point lead over Sinner, and we’re unsure when Sinner will return. So, from my point of view, the unofficial number one is Zverev because he has performed better in the major tournaments, but he still has to earn it."
As for the future, Zverev aims to become the second German ever to hold the ATP ranking lead, following Boris Becker, who achieved this for 12 weeks in 1991. Becker has recently defended Zverev against criticisms suggesting his success is contingent upon the absence of top players like Sinner and Alcaraz. According to Rusedski, Zverev's consistent performance and high-level play throughout the season merit recognition. Achieving the number one ranking would fulfill Zverev's aspirations and provide a solid foundation as he looks toward 2027.