ATP Tour

Zverev must do this to overtake Alcaraz to World No. 2

While there is plenty on the line for both Alexander Zverev and Arthur Fery in Friday's Wimbledon semi-final, each man is also within reach of a significant PIF ATP Rankings milestone.

Zverev, who had never progressed beyond the fourth round at the grass-court major before this fortnight, is now just one victory away from reclaiming World No. 2 on Monday. Should he defeat Fery and reach his first Wimbledon final, the 29-year-old will overtake Carlos Alcaraz in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and return to No. 2 for the first time since May last year.

After falling in the first round at SW19 in 2025, Zverev had only 10 points to defend this fortnight, and the 6'6" German has made the most of the opportunity. The Roland Garros champion currently sits with 7,980 points in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, but with a win over Fery, he would jump to 8,480, moving him ahead of the injured Alcaraz, who has 8,160.

If Zverev backs up his run on the Parisian clay and wins a second straight major title at Wimbledon, he will move closer to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and could potentially make a push for the top spot during the second half of the season. Sinner has 12,250 points in the Live Rankings heading into Friday's semi-finals.

Zverev underlined his title credentials with a commanding straight-sets victory over Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals, ending a seven-match losing streak against the American. His next challenge comes against British wild card Fery, who has already guaranteed himself the British No. 1 ranking on Monday following his breakthrough run at the All England Club.

Competing this fortnight as World No. 114, Fery has surged 78 places to No. 36 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. By defeating Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals to improve to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, the 23-year-old became just the fourth man in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals of a major as a wild card.

View the PIF ATP Live Rankings

Having already broken into both the Top 100 and Top 50 during his remarkable run in southwest London, Fery has the chance to climb even higher. If he defeats Zverev, he would rise to No. 26 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, one place behind rising 19-year-old Rafael Jodar.

Before arriving at SW19, Fery had won just two main-draw matches at major tournaments. He has since reeled off five impressive victories to become only the fifth British man to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Should Fery complete a fairytale run to the title, he would soar to World No. 13. Regardless of Friday's result, however, the 23-year-old has already secured a new career-high ranking of World No. 36 on Monday.

Zverev, meanwhile, will look to bring Fery's dream run to an end while matching his career-high World No. 2 ranking and strengthening his bid to close the gap on Sinner in the race for World No. 1.