Alexander Zverev, the current world number two, is set to finish the year as the world’s top-ranked tennis player following a successful season. The announcement comes after the 29-year-old won both the French Open in June and the US Open in September, marking his first Grand Slam titles.
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"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 said in a statement shared by the ATP Tour website. He acknowledged the significant effort that went into achieving this goal, particularly following his recovery from a severe ankle injury sustained during the 2022 French Open semi-final.
With this achievement, Zverev will be the first German male player to end the season at number one and the oldest to receive the year-end trophy, set to be presented in November. Previous German greats Angelique Kerber and Steffi Graf have both held the year-end top ranking in women's tennis.
Zverev's rise to the top occurs in a year marked by injuries sidelining former number ones Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner, the current number one, has not competed since defeating Zverev in the Wimbledon final, while Alcaraz was out for months due to a wrist injury.
Standing 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) tall, Zverev grew up in a tennis family where both parents played the sport at high levels in the former Soviet Union. Despite his success, Zverev is contending with serious allegations of domestic violence made by two former partners, which he has denied. The ATP Tour investigated one accusation but did not find sufficient evidence for punishment; a separate claim led to a penalty order from a German court, which was dropped after a settlement in June 2024.