Despite the anger: Alexander Zverev climbs to second place in the world rankings

“I’m not interested in anything”
Completely frustrated Zverev suffers his way to career high

09.09.2024, 10:40 a.m.

Alexander Zverev leaves the US Open completely frustrated: Germany’s best tennis player once again misses a chance at the longed-for Grand Slam triumph. But after the tournament ends, the Hamburg native receives some good news.

After reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open, Alexander Zverev climbed to second place in the tennis world rankings, returning to the best position of his career. The 27-year-old overtook Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic from Serbia, who had both previously failed at the Grand Slam tournament in New York.

Zverev was last in second place two years ago, after which he temporarily fell to 27th place due to his serious ankle injury at the French Open. Zverev’s declared goal is to win a Grand Slam title and to reach the top of the world rankings. However, with 7,075 points, he is currently more than 4,000 points behind the US Open winner Jannik Sinner from Italy (11,180).

“Bottomless from me today”

However, the jump back to his personal top position is likely to be little consolation for Zverev at best, as Germany’s best tennis player was completely devastated after his quarter-final exit against Taylor Fritz. “That was simply abysmal of me today,” said the 27-year-old about his performance in the 6:7 (2:7), 6:3, 4:6, 6:7 (3:7) against the eventual finalist Fritz. “I don’t have any answers right now.”

So another Grand Slam season ended without a title for the unfinished player, who lost the final of the French Open to Alcaraz this year and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open. “But I didn’t win a title. I don’t care about any of that,” he said bitterly. “I’m 27 years old, I’ll be 28 next year.” Zverev had already lost to Fritz in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

The ground has rarely been as well prepared for the next big opportunity as it was at the last Grand Slam tournament of the year: the surprise third-round defeat of last year’s winner Novak Djokovic meant that the biggest competition from Zverev’s half of the draw was eliminated early on.

Becker remains the sporting benchmark

Alcaraz, who gave the Hamburg player no chance in the quarterfinals last year in three sets, this time sensationally bowed out in the second round. Zverev’s jump was also made possible by the fact that his competitors lost numerous points by being eliminated early, while Zverev achieved exactly the same result as last year – and left the Big Apple disappointed.

The last German tennis pro to top the men’s world rankings remains Boris Becker. The man from Leimen climbed to the top with his victory at the 1991 Australian Open. Becker’s victory at the 1996 Australian Open is also the last Grand Slam triumph by a German. In the women’s world rankings, Tatjana Maria is once again the best-placed German after losing in the final at the lower-class tournament in Guadalajara. She moved up from 99th to 82nd place, overtaking Laura Siegemund, who is now 97th.