Alexander Zverev claimed the number one ranking on Monday, November 2, taking over from Jannik Sinner after a season that included victories at Roland Garros and the US Open.
“I feel like I’m the only number one in the history of tennis that has to explain why I deserve it,” Zverev complained, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Critics have pointed to the absences of Sinner due to injury and Carlos Alcaraz for five months as the primary reasons for the German player’s ascent to the top of the ATP rankings. Zverev faced only one top-10 opponent, Ben Shelton, between his two major tournament triumphs, fueling ongoing debates about his status.
“I’m not a robot!” Zverev said regarding his recent performances below expectations in Shanghai and Paris.
New ATP Top 10: 1. Zverev, 9.350 2. Sinner, 7.950 3. Alcaraz, 6.100 4. Shelton, 5.170 5. Medvedev, 3.820 6. Cobolli, 3.680 7. Fils, 3.625 8. Tiafoe, 3.390 9. Fritz, 3.300 (+1) 10. Jódar, 3.234 (+1)
“I was fatigued, I suffered a certain relaxation. I had achieved several goals that I had set for myself for this year and you notice that mentally, you feel empty,” Zverev told Mundo Deportivo.
His struggles as the new number one began immediately in Paris, where he lost his debut match indoors against Italian player Lorenzo Musetti.
Diario Siglo XXI said that while the ATP rankings reflect accumulated results over time, they do not always match the collective perception of who plays the best tennis at any given moment.
Zverev arrived in Turin as one of the main favorites alongside Carlos Alcaraz for the ATP Finals, a tournament he previously won in 2018 and 2021.
“Carlos has been exceptional since his return and has been playing extraordinary tennis, but my main objective is the first match against Rafa Jódar,” Zverev said, according to HolaNews.
Rafael Jódar enters the competition as a debutant and the first player in history to qualify for the prestigious tournament in his first year as a professional, HolaNews reported.
Zverev will begin his campaign on Sunday at 14:00 CET against Jódar at the Inalpi Arena, regardless of any external debates about his ranking status.
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