Alexander Zverev has secured his place at the top of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career after defeating Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5 in the second round of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Thursday.
The German produced a composed performance against the Dutchman to book his place in the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 tournament. The victory also confirmed that Zverev will rise to world No. 1 when the rankings are updated on Monday, 2 November.
At 29, Zverev will become the 30th player in ATP history to reach the top spot and the first German to do so since Boris Becker in 1991.
Zverev took control early by breaking Griekspoor's serve in the opening game of the first set before maintaining his advantage to claim it 6-4. The second set proved more competitive, but the top seed found another breakthrough at 5-5 before serving out the match with an ace.
The victory was particularly meaningful for Zverev, who had come close to reaching the top of the rankings in 2022 before an ankle injury suffered during the French Open semi-finals against Rafael Nadal ended his season.
"It's very special. To have the feeling to be on the top of the world is amazing," Zverev said after the match.
He also reflected on the long wait to achieve the milestone, adding: "I had to wait, but sometimes you've got to wait for the best things in life."
The German has enjoyed an outstanding 2026 season, winning his first two Grand Slam titles at the French Open and US Open. He will now turn his attention to the Vienna quarter-finals, where he is scheduled to face British player Arthur Fery.
Fery booked his place in the last eight after defeating Italy's Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Zverev's rise to world No. 1 marks another major achievement in a season that has established him among the leading players on the ATP Tour.