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Alexander Zverev to End 35-Year German Drought as Year-End No. 1 Following Carlos Alcaraz's Shanghai Exit

Carlos Alcaraz faced a surprising exit from the Shanghai Masters after losing to Zizou Bergs in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6, during the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event. Despite being the second seed and breaking Bergs at 6-5 in the second set, Alcaraz could not maintain momentum, with the Belgian holding firm in the tiebreak to seal a significant career victory.

Alcaraz, who recently claimed his 27th ATP title at the Japan Open, suffered his fifth loss this season with the defeat against Bergs.

Zverev Confirmed as Year-End World No. 1

Although Alcaraz will gain points due to missing last year's Shanghai event, his loss means he cannot finish 2026 as the year-end number one player. This distinction now belongs officially to Alexander Zverev. With current world leader Jannik Sinner sidelined for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, Zverev is guaranteed to end the year at the top after his strongest campaign yet.

The 29-year-old won his first two Grand Slam titles this year, triumphing at Roland Garros and the US Open. He also reached his best Wimbledon finish by advancing to the final before falling to Sinner. Beyond the Slams, Zverev made the Madrid Open final, reached semifinals in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo, and helped Team Europe secure Laver Cup success.

This achievement makes Zverev the first German man to hold the ATP No. 1 spot since Boris Becker in 1991, ending a 35-year gap. In singles across both men’s and women’s tennis, he is the first German to reach number one since Angelique Kerber in 2017. His rise also breaks the recent dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz, becoming the first world No. 1 outside this duo since Novak Djokovic in June 2024.

Zverev Reacts to Securing Top Spot

“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,” Zverev shared via the ATP Tour’s Instagram. “So much work and effort have been put into achieving this goal, especially after coming back from the ankle injury.”

Zverev suffered a serious ankle injury during the 2022 Roland Garros semifinal against Rafael Nadal, tearing all three lateral ligaments in his right ankle. Currently competing at the Shanghai Masters where he has reached the fourth round, Zverev will next play at the Paris Masters before the year-end ATP Finals in Turin.

Alcaraz’s Ongoing Struggles in Post-Grand Slam Masters Events

Alcaraz’s early exit continues a pattern of underperformance in the two Masters 1000 events following the Grand Slam season: the Shanghai and Paris Masters. Over six years, the 23-year-old has only once reached the quarterfinals in either tournament, struggling particularly in Paris, where he has lost his opening match twice in the past three years.

  • Year: 2021 | Shanghai: – | Paris: 3R
  • Year: 2022 | Shanghai: – | Paris: QF
  • Year: 2023 | Shanghai: 4R | Paris: 2R
  • Year: 2024 | Shanghai: QF | Paris: 3R
  • Year: 2025 | Shanghai: – | Paris: 2R
  • Year: 2026 | Shanghai: 3R | Paris: –

Besides Shanghai and Paris, the Canadian Open is another Masters 1000 tournament Alcaraz has yet to win. He has played there only twice and never advanced beyond the quarterfinals.

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