Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Zverev Can Reach World No. 1 as Sinner Ends Season
Alexander Zverev is close to becoming the world’s top-ranked men’s tennis player.
He is currently second, behind Jannik Sinner.
Sinner has stopped playing for the rest of 2026 because he needs treatment for his knee.
That means Sinner’s ranking points will stay the same while other tournaments are played.
Zverev has two possible combinations of results in Shanghai and Vienna that could put him first.
He must either win in Shanghai and reach the Vienna semifinals, or make the Shanghai final and win in Vienna.
If he does, he would become the second German to reach No.
1.
At 29, he would also be among the oldest players ever to reach the top spot for the first time.
Alexander Zverev trails Jannik Sinner by 1,230 points in the PIF ATP Rankings, with 9,720 points to Sinner’s 10,950.
Sinner ended his 2026 season after Wimbledon, citing the need for knee treatment, and will not add or defend points in remaining events.
Zverev can overtake Sinner by November 2 by winning Shanghai and reaching Vienna’s semifinals, or by reaching the Shanghai final and winning Vienna.
Zverev, 29, would become the second German to reach No. 1, after Boris Becker, and the second-oldest player to do so for the first time.
The article projects Zverev would reach No. 1 at 29 years and 174 days, two days younger than Andy Murray’s first-time record age.
- Who
- Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner.
- What
- Zverev could overtake Sinner to become the men’s world No. 1.
- When
- As soon as November 2, 2026.
- Where
- At the Rolex Shanghai Masters and the Vienna tournament.
- Why
- Sinner has ended his 2026 season for knee treatment, leaving Zverev a chance to gain ranking points while Sinner’s total remains unchanged.
Ranking opportunity
Conditions for overtaking
Sinner’s absence
Ranking opportunity
Sinner has ended his 2026 season to undergo treatment for his knee, so his points total will not change in the remaining events.
Conditions for overtaking
Zverev still needs to achieve one of the specified strong result combinations in Shanghai and Vienna; the ranking change is not automatic.
- Zverev’s ranking points
- 9,720
- Sinner’s ranking points
- 10,950
- Points gap
- 1,230
- Shanghai–Vienna route one
- Win the Shanghai title and reach the Vienna semifinals.
- Shanghai–Vienna route two
- Reach the Shanghai final and win the Vienna title.
- Projected age at first No. 1
- 29 years and 174 days
- Sinner’s last tournament listed
- Wimbledon, which he won in July.