Having clawed back a 7,000-point deficit, Alexander Zverev now trails Jannik Sinner by just 100 points in the live ATP rankings and stands one step away from becoming world number one. Reaching the quarter-finals of the Vienna Open would be enough for the German to overtake the Italian at the top of the rankings. Sinner has missed the second half of the season with a knee injury, while Carlos Alcaraz has been hampered by wrist problems. Some critics question whether Zverev deserves top spot, but Alcaraz insists the German has earned it in full. "Tennis is not only about stepping on the court and playing... It is about the consistency you have during the whole year," the Spaniard said.
Consistency has indeed prevailed. Alcaraz also highlighted the German's physical resilience. "Sascha has both, you know, great, great level, and great physical condition," he said. The 29-year-old has already won the French Open and the US Open in the 2026 season, underlining his place at the head of the field.
