Alexander Zverev is enjoying a season that has put him within reach of the very top of the sport, but the German knows he has not made the climb alone.
The 29-year-old has reached new heights in 2026, winning two major titles and moving to within touching distance of becoming the 30th player to rise to No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings (since 1973).
Ahead of his opening match against Wu Yibing at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Friday, Zverev reflected on the importance of the team around him and the people who have helped him navigate both the highs and the tough moments.
“We have all been fighting and working extremely hard for the same goals and to achieve it together is even more special,” Zverev told ATP Media. “I think the number one reference point in my box is always my father. I think that is what I am most used to, most of the time.
“But I think it is important to have these close people because through tough moments you can have an argument and in the next moment you are still fighting for the same things. It is extremely important to have this kind of support and to have the people that know you best fighting for those things.”
Zverev has gone 58-15 this season and is chasing his third title of the year in Shanghai. Having already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, the top seed has five weeks remaining to build on his breakthrough campaign and finish the season on a high.
While the World No. 2 continues to be part of the conversation around the top spot, Zverev is keen to keep his attention on what he can control.
“I have big motivation to play and there are certain things I want to achieve and of course I am fighting for. For me, I enjoy playing tennis at the moment and hope that continues,” Zverev said. “It is a talking point for everybody at the moment [the No. 1 ranking] but I am motivated to keep fighting for good things hopefully. The only thing I can control is what I do on the tennis court and my next match and that is what my focus is on each time.”
Zverev is making his eighth appearance at the hard-court ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, where his best result came in 2019 when he reached the final.
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