“I can compete for all four Grand Slams”: Zverev’s first words as World No. 1
On the day he became World No. 1, the German said this season taught him how to play on grass and that he now feels he can contend at all four majors. He also spoke about his shape, Daniil Medvedev and a quiet celebration after the Davis Cup.
Alexander Zverev, Rolex Paris Masters 2026 | © Baptiste Autissier / PsNewz
Alexander Zverev spoke to the media at the Rolex Paris Masters on Monday, less for his usual media day than to mark the day he became World No. 1 for the first time in his career, at 29. The German, champion at Roland-Garros and the US Open this season, opens his campaign in the second round against Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10) on Monday. He had already been on court on Monday, after Casper Ruud’s win, for a ceremony organized by the FFT and the ATP.
Zverev is the 30th player to top the ATP rankings since they began in 1973. He sealed the top spot by reaching the quarter-finals in Vienna last week, before losing to Alex de Minaur 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) in the semi-finals.
Reporters in the room, including Tennis Majors, quickly turned to his goals for 2027. Zverev knows all eyes are on him, having lost every match this season against his rivals for the top spot, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev on becoming World No. 1
What did you feel today when you saw your name at the top of the PIF ATP Rankings?
I haven’t looked at the rankings yet. But it’s a special day for sure. I think Paris has been quite special to me this year generally. It’s a place where I had a lot of ups and downs, I had a lot of heartbreak. But this year, of course, winning my first Grand Slam here and becoming No. 1 is a very special feeling.
You now have both. What feels better: being world No. 1 or being a Grand Slam champion?
It’s a different feeling. When I won my first Grand Slam, it was a different kind of emotion, because at first I was thinking I was maybe never going to do it. I had a lot of heartbreaks, a lot of tough moments, a lot of losses in finals, so that was a different kind of feeling, to finally make it. It was the biggest relief I’ve ever felt in my career.
But both trophies are individually special, individually different. Winning a Grand Slam is the biggest tournament we can win in tennis. For me, the Olympics is also one of the biggest trophies you can win (Zverev won Olympic gold in 2021, Ed.). But for this, you have to play the best season for an entire year. So it’s a completely different feeling, but this feels special as well.
Zverev’s goals: Sinner, Alcaraz and all four Grand Slams
Now that you are No. 1 with two Grand Slam titles, is there still something to prove next year? For instance, beating Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz more often?
For sure. I’ve had a great season, and I’m very happy with the season that I’ve had: the two Grand Slams, being No. 1 and all that. But of course there are so many other things that I still want to achieve. I think it’s very important, in any sport or in any person’s life, to have certain goals that are set for you, which I definitely do.
I’m looking forward to the top two guys being healthy again, playing fully and competing with them. I look forward to that challenge as well.
Could you be more specific about your goals for next year?
Competing with them is one. But another goal of mine now: I feel like this year was the first time in my life I could play on grass. Before, I didn’t know what to do on grass courts. So I definitely feel like I can compete for all four Grand Slams, and of course, hopefully, getting a few more would be great.
Zverev on his shape after Shanghai and Vienna
You said in Shanghai that you were tired, and last week many expected a final against Carlos Alcaraz in Vienna. How do you rate your shape, mentally and physically?
I feel good. In Shanghai, yes, I was tired, my battery was low, I was done. Then I took one week off, which helped me quite a lot. I didn’t play tennis for one week. And I feel good, my energy feels good.
I actually felt good in Vienna as well. I think the conditions were a bit difficult for me, and I think Alex played a phenomenal match against me, so credit to him, he beat me. But physically I felt fine, energy-wise I felt fine, and I expect to play good tennis over the next couple of weeks.
But now I feel like every day you continue the work. In Vienna, I secured No. 1 and the next day I had to play.
With Stefanos Tsitsipas raising his level, and Daniil Medvedev too, do you think that generation is, in a way, making a comeback at the top?
I think Daniil has never left. He had one not-so-good season last year, where he finished, what, No. 9 in the world? So yeah, I think he’s never left. First of all, he’s top five again, and I think he’s going to stay top five. So I don’t think his level has disappeared anywhere.
I think Stefanos has had a little bit more problems, more issues, but I think he can play great tennis as well. I think we need to be careful when we say that players have gotten worse or downgraded, because I think we forgot how good Daniil actually is and what results he can show. I have nothing but respect for him, and I think he’s going to do great things in tennis over the next four or five years as well.
Zverev on messages and celebrating the No. 1 ranking
Did you receive a message of congratulations from someone you didn’t expect?
That I didn’t expect? It’s a tough one. In the tennis world, I received a message from everybody. I think our tennis family is very close, so if somebody achieves something great, they always like to congratulate. I always congratulate everybody too. What I didn’t expect: some athletes from other sports, some politicians from Germany. I received some from those people as well.
Have you had time to celebrate, or will everything wait until after the ATP Finals?
That’s why I say it’s different from winning a Grand Slam. At a Grand Slam, the week stops, you know that you won, you can celebrate, you can be happy. But now I feel like every day you continue the work. In Vienna, I secured No. 1 and the next day I had to play. Here also, I have to play the day after tomorrow, so I’m not going to celebrate too much here.
I think everything will happen after the Davis Cup. But I think it’s going to be a quiet celebration, because I’m going to the Maldives with the whole family. So it’s going to be a different kind of celebration.
