Alexander Zverev dethrones Sinner, becomes first German men's World No. 1 since Becker

Alexander Zverev has become the first German men's World No.1 since Boris Becker in 1991, following Carlos Alcaraz's third-round exit at the Shanghai Masters. Jannik Sinner's absence since Wimbledon due to a knee injury had boosted Zverev's chances of finishing the season at the top of the ATP rankings.Alexander Zverev has become the new World No.1, replacing Jannik Sinner. Courtesy: ReutersNew Delhi,Oct 12, 2026 18:45 ISTAlexander Zverev has achieved a historic milestone in men's tennis, becoming the first German to reach the top of the ATP rankings since Boris Becker in 1991. The 29-year-old's rise to the summit has been confirmed following Carlos Alcaraz's third-round elimination at the Shanghai Masters, with Zverev finishing the season as the world's top-ranked player.The achievement marks a significant moment in Zverev's career, which has featured several major titles and years of competing among the sport's elite. He has emerged as one of the leading players on the ATP Tour in 2026, winning the French Open and US Open to establish himself as a formidable force in men's tennis.Zverev's ascent also brings an end to Germany's long wait for a men's world No.1. Becker remains the only German man to have occupied the position, having topped the rankings twice in 1991 for a combined total of 12 weeks.SINNER'S INJURY OPENS THE DOORZverev's rise has been aided by the prolonged absence of Jannik Sinner, who has not played since winning Wimbledon in July because of a knee injury. The Italian subsequently missed the North American hard-court swing, including the US Open, as well as the China Open in Beijing and the Shanghai Masters. Sinner's withdrawal from Shanghai, announced earlier this month, further weakened his position in the battle to finish the season at the top. The reigning Wimbledon champion had enjoyed an outstanding 2026 campaign before his injury, compiling a 44-3 win-loss record and collecting five ATP Masters 1000 titles before his triumph at the All England Club.With Sinner sidelined, Zverev had the opportunity to consolidate his position in the season-long rankings race. The German entered the Shanghai Masters as the leading contender for the year-end No.1 honour, with his performances throughout the season putting him in control of his destiny.HOW ZVEREV HAS PERFORMED IN 2026Alexander Zverev has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 season, reaching the Australian Open semi-finals before making deep runs at the first four ATP Masters 1000 events. He finished runner-up in Madrid and suffered defeats to eventual champions Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner during the early part of the season. Zverev broke new ground at Roland Garros, defeating Flavio Cobolli in five sets to claim his maiden Grand Slam title. He became the first German man to win the French Open in the Open Era. The 29-year-old subsequently reached the Wimbledon final, becoming the first German man to contest the title match at all four Grand Slam tournaments.Zverev continued his impressive run at the US Open, claiming his second major title of the season after dropping just one set following the opening two rounds. He finished the Grand Slam season with a 25-2 win-loss record.More recently, Zverev competed at the China Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals. The German is now set to face Alexander Bublik in the Shanghai Masters round of 16 on Tuesday after beating Quentin Halys in his opening match.After finishing 2024 as the year-end World No. 2, Zverev has now ended 2026 at the top of the ATP rankings, joining Djokovic, Alcaraz and Sinner among active players to have achieved the year-end No. 1 honour.- Ends