Alexander Zverev secured the top spot in the ATP rankings for the first time by reaching the quarterfinals at the Vienna Open, before advancing to the semifinals with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Arthur Fery on Friday. With the climb, Zverev becomes the first German tennis player to hold the world No. 1 ranking since Boris Becker nearly 35 years ago.
Alexander Zverev Dominates Arthur Fery to Reach Vienna Semifinals
Facing British qualifier Arthur Fery at the Wiener Stadthalle, Zverev controlled the match from the baseline, net, and service line. The top-seeded German claimed the opening set in 25 minutes. Fery avoided a double bagel by holding serve at love-love in the second set, putting a game on the board after 39 minutes to the delight of the crowd. Zverev closed out the encounter in 58 minutes to reach his third Vienna semifinal, following his title run in 2021 and his runner-up finish last year.
Alexander Zverev vs Martin Landaluce — top seed meets a wildcardPreview · ATP 500 Vienna · First round · Tuesday 27 October 2026Alexander Zverev opens his Vienna campaign as the top seed against Martin Landaluce, a 20-year-old Spanish wildcard. The German is ranked 2 in the…
Late Night Recovery Precedes Historic Ranking Milestone
Zverev’s milestone week in the Austrian capital came on limited rest. Following his quarterfinal win that officially guaranteed his ascent to No. 1 in the men’s tennis rankings starting Monday, the 29-year-old did not get to bed until 4:30 a.m. “I didn’t get much sleep,” Zverev said. “It still worked out well.” He praised Fery’s speed, tactical awareness, and potential, noting that the young Briton is likely to break into the top 32 of the ATP rankings and secure a seeded spot at the upcoming Australian Open.
Alex de Minaur Awaits in the Semifinals
In the semifinal round, Zverev will face fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur. De Minaur earned his spot in the final four by defeating Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Zverev holds a 9-4 advantage in their head-to-head series. Addressing the upcoming matchup, Zverev highlighted the challenge posed by the Australian’s movement and court conditions, stating that de Minaur remains a dangerous opponent given the low bounce on the Vienna hard courts.
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