ATP Tour

Zverev reacts to No. 1 feat: 'I'm looking forward to the responsibility'

Alexander Zverev knows that reaching the summit of the PIF ATP Rankings will bring a feeling unlike any other.

Yet after securing ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours for the first time on Monday, the 29-year-old German is already looking forward to the responsibility that comes with the territory. Zverev clinched the year-end No. 1 honour on Monday, and his achievement will soon be accompanied by another career milestone.

With current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner ruled out for the remainder of 2026 due to a knee injury, and World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz unable to overtake him this season, Zverev is also on course to become the 30th player to reach No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. The earliest he can achieve that feat is 2 November.

“It’s very, very special. It’s different from winning big tournaments or Grand Slams,” Zverev said after his fourth-round win over Alexander Bublik at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Tuesday. “It’s a different sort of feeling. As the World No. 1, you have a responsibility on your shoulders, but I’m looking forward to that.

“I’m close to being 30 years old. It’s a special feeling for me to achieve that at my age. It’s definitely been a special couple of hours, that’s for sure.”

It has been a remarkable season for Zverev, who won his first two major titles at Roland Garros and the US Open and leads the Tour with 61 victories, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Yet, despite the World No. 1 achievement being all but within reach, Zverev admitted that the full weight of reaching the top spot has not quite sunk in.

“I think the emotions come when you actually see the No. 1 next to your name,” Zverev said. “I think that will be something special. For now, I'm No. 2 in the world still, finnily enough. That I clinched year-end No. 1 is, of course, with Jannik being out, unfortunate. But I think, once it happens it will be a special moment for me.”