Shanghai Masters: Zverev survives Bublik and speaks plainly about his year-end No. 1 ranking

Two hours and forty minutes, two tie-breaks: Alexander Zverev beat Alexander Bublik 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(1) on Tuesday in the round of 16 of the Shanghai Masters. The only set settled in open play went to the Kazakh, 6-4. Everything else turned on the tie-breaks, and Zverev won both.

The year-end No. 1 spot was sealed the day before

Carlos Alcaraz, fresh from the Tokyo title on his return from injury, went out in the third round against Zizou Bergs, ranked 39th: 7-5, 7-6(4) in 2 hr 3 min. With Jannik Sinner already ruled out for the rest of the season, nobody was left to take first place off Zverev. He will end the year as world No. 1, the first German to do it, and will collect the trophy at the ATP Finals in Turin, from 15 to 22 November. We covered that turning point in our report on Alcaraz’s exit.

“I’m still world No. 2, which is quite funny”

After the Bublik match, Zverev was asked about that ranking. His answer matched a board that has not turned over yet: “For now, I’m still world No. 2, which is quite funny, and the fact that I clinched the year-end No. 1 spot is of course down to Jannik being absent, unfortunately.” He added: “once it happens, it will be a special moment for me.” The official ranking has not moved; it will turn in the coming weeks.

In another comment, he weighed what the season had cost him: “It has been a fantastic season for me: I won in Paris and New York, and knowing that I will finish the year top of the rankings is a dream coming true.” A dream written after a severe ankle injury, suffered in the 2022 French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal.

In the meantime there is a quarter-final to play in Shanghai: the future year-end No. 1 spends this week fighting for a semi-final spot at the Chinese Masters 1000.