ATP Tour

Zverev is second-oldest No. 1 to achieve THIS feat…

This has been Alexander Zverev’s most memorable season.

Not only has the German shed the burden of being without a major title — triumphing at Roland Garros and the US Open — Zverev achieved another career milestone on Monday, becoming the second-oldest first-time No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings (29 years, six months and 13 days).

A 30-year-old John Newcombe is the oldest to achieve the feat, having done so in June 1974, less than a year after the creation of the PIF ATP Rankings. So although Newcombe was older than Zverev, he had only been chasing World No. 1 for 10 months.

Andy Murray, like Zverev, reached the pole position at age 29, just one month younger (29 years, five months, and 23 days). Like Zverev will this year, the Scot also earned ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours in 2016.

That historic detail makes Zverev’s rise to World No. 1 even more notable. It was more than four years ago — on 13 June 2022 — when a 25-year-old Zverev ascended to a career-high No. 2 for the first time. Zverev was ahead of the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the PIF ATP Rankings, and only trailed then-World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev by 875 points.

But, just 10 days before, Zverev suffered a devastating right ankle injury, tearing multiple ligaments, in a Roland Garros semi-final match against Nadal. Zverev left the court in a wheelchair and did not compete the rest of the season.

Upon returning to action in January 2023, Zverev was outside the Top 10. Then, at Roland Garros a year after his severe injury, he was World No. 27. Zverev eventually returned to World No. 2 after a quarter-final run at the 2024 US Open.

His career-high of No. 2 is no longer. A 26-time tour-level champion, Zverev is the 30th member in the exclusive ATP No. 1 Club and the second German, joining Boris Becker. Zverev already clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours on 12 October.