Sports · Tennis · 3 hrs ago
Zverev to finish 2026 as year-end world No 1 after Alcaraz’s Shanghai loss
Alexander Zverev will finish 2026 as the top-ranked men’s tennis player, after Carlos Alcaraz lost to Zizou Bergs in the Shanghai Masters third round.
Bergs, a Belgian ranked 39th in the world, beat Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6.
The result, along with Jannik Sinner’s continued absence because of injury, secured the ranking for Zverev.
He will be the first German to end a year at No 1.
At 29 years and 217 days old when the year-end rankings are published on 23 November, he will be the oldest player to reach the top spot at the end of a season for the first time.
Zverev said the achievement was a dream come true after winning the French Open and US Open.
The rankings milestone is confirmed, while the Shanghai Masters continues.
Alexander Zverev secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking after Carlos Alcaraz lost in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.
Zverev will become the first German to finish a year at the top of the men’s rankings.
At 29 years and 217 days old on 23 November, he will be the oldest player to achieve the feat for the first time.
He will be three days older than Andre Agassi was when he finished the year at No. 1 in 1999.
Alcaraz was beaten 7-5, 7-6 (4) by Zizou Bergs, while Jannik Sinner was absent through injury.
- Who
- Alexander Zverev secured the year-end No. 1 ranking.
- What
- He will become the first German and the oldest player to finish a year at No. 1 for the first time.
- When
- He secured the ranking on 12 October 2026. The year-end rankings are due to be published on 23 November.
- Where
- The ranking was confirmed after Carlos Alcaraz’s defeat at the Shanghai Masters.
- Why
- Alcaraz lost to Zizou Bergs in the third round, and Jannik Sinner was absent through injury.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It’s been a fantastic season for me winning in Paris and New York and knowing that I will finish the year on top of the rankings is just a dream come true.
So much work and effort have been put into achieving this goal, especially after coming back from the ankle injury.
It’s a bit of disbelief
Carlos Alcaraz lost to Zizou Bergs in the third round of the Shanghai Masters, confirming Zverev as year-end No. 1.
The year-end rankings are due to be published, when Zverev will be 29 years and 217 days old.
- Year-end ranking
- Alexander Zverev will finish 2026 as world No. 1
- Shanghai result
- Zizou Bergs beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6 (4)
- Age
- 29 years and 217 days on 23 November 2026
- Previous record
- Andre Agassi was 29 years and 214 days old in 1999
- National first
- Zverev will be the first German to finish a year at No. 1
Sources
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