Alexander Zverev expressed that finishing 2026 as the year-end No. 1 is a “dream come true.” With Jannik Sinner sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury, Zverev was assured of his position as the world’s top-ranked player. A key moment came when Carlos Alcaraz suffered a surprising third-round defeat to Zizou Bergs at the Shanghai Open, solidifying Zverev's lead in the ATP rankings.

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The German player has had a remarkable year, securing victories at both the French Open and the US Open, marking his first major titles. Reflecting on his achievements, he commented on the ATP’s website, “It’s been a fantastic season for me, winning in Paris and New York and knowing that I will finish the year on top of the rankings is just a dream come true.”

Zverev, who stands at 6 feet 6 inches tall, noted the extensive effort he has put into reaching this goal, especially following his recovery from an ankle injury. He expressed his excitement about ending the season positively.

Currently leading the ATP Race to Sinner by 900 points, Zverev is positioned well ahead of world No. 2 Sinner, who has 8,850 points. Alcaraz, the Australian Open champion, sits third with 4,600 points, while US Open finalist Ben Shelton is fourth at 4,480 points. Zverev’s lead is now insurmountable until at least 2027, following Alcaraz's exit from the Shanghai event.

On November 23, the day of the year-end ATP Rankings, Zverev will be 29 years and 217 days old, three years older than Andre Agassi was in 1999 and 20 days older than Andy Murray was in 2016.

Sharing his joy on social media, Zverev posted graphics declaring his achievement of being the '2026 year-end world No. 1.' ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi congratulated him, stating, “Finishing the season as year-end No. 1 is the ultimate achievement in our sport. Congratulations to Sascha, who became just the 20th player to do so.” He further remarked on Zverev's consistency among the world's elite players over the last decade.

Zverev's next challenge lies in the Shanghai Masters, where he has advanced to the last 16 and is set to face Alexander Bublik.