Alexander Zverev has confirmed his place in tennis history as the end-of-year world number one after Carlos Alcaraz lost in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. The match, which took place on October 13, 2026, marked a significant moment for Zverev, who was already on track to claim the top spot following the injury of current number one Jannik Sinner.
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Alcaraz's defeat to Zizou Bergs means he cannot catch Zverev, who will officially be ranked number one on November 2. Zverev, having secured his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June and won the US Open in September, praised his successful season, stating, "It’s been a fantastic season for me."
The 29-year-old German, now a two-time Grand Slam champion, has won 26 titles since turning professional in 2013. He will become the 30th man to reach the ATP's number one ranking since its computerization in 1973 and the 20th to finish the year in this position. He expressed gratitude for achieving this goal, especially after recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him for seven months.
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi commended Zverev, saying, "Finishing the season as year-end number one is the ultimate achievement in our sport. Congratulations to Alex. To finish as year-end number one for the first time aged 29 shows his grit and determination to continue pushing forward."
With Alcaraz's exit, French player Gael Monfils remains the last French competitor heading to the Australian Open.