Alexander Zverev’s pursuit of the No. 1 ranking is over before it is complete. In an anomaly created by the season-ending injury to Jannik Sinner, Zverev has clinched the No. 1 ranking for the year even though he has never held the spot and will not until November. Carlos Alcaraz’ 3rd Round loss to Zizou Bergs means he no longer has enough points at his disposal to catch Zverev, who won the French and US Opens for his first two Grand Slam wins. Sinner remains No. 1 at least through October and possibly until after the Paris Masters the first week in November. Zverev will eventually become the 30th player to hold the No. 1 ranking since they were launched August 23, 1973. He will be the oldest to reach the penthouse for the first time.
Alive and well in Shanghai; Alcaraz, Djokovic out
Zverev is the top seed in Shanghai and is through to the Round of 16 and will play Alexander Bublik who took out in-form American Brandon Nakashima in the 3rd. The other 4th Round match in Zverev’s Blue Quarter is Alez de Minaur against Karen Khachanov. De Minaur had to retire from the Beijing final against Novak Djokovic two weekends ago and then got a gift when, after his bye, he advanced on a walkover from Alex Molcan. He then played some tennis and beat Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto.
The Red Quarter has opened up a golden opportunity for Jakub Mensik after all three Top 10 players—Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Novak Djokovic went out early. Mensik will play Arthur Gea who took down Shelton in a pair of tiebreaks to book his place in the Top 50 for the first time. The other match here is Alejandro Davidovich Fokina against Hubert Hurkacz. Davidovich Fokina is enjoying a solid season and beat Frances Tiafoe in a 3rd-set tiebreak. Kurkacz dispatched Djokovic who could not bring his Beijing magic south to Shangahi.
The Green Quarter offers a pair of intriguing clashes. Rafael Jodar, 20, may have to defer his Top 10 dreams until 2027 but is returning to form and advanced with a nice win over Jiri Lehecka. He will play Botic van de Zandschulp whose nice fall continued with an upset of Arthur Fils. The other Round of 16 match is Felix Auger-Aliassime against Casper Ruud. Alcaraz’ loss disrupted the Purple Quarter and his vanquisher Zizou Bergs will play his first 4th Round match at a Masters 1000 or Grand Slam when he takes on Tommy Paul. Also Daniil Medvedev will take on resurgent Stefanos Tsitsipas. Paul knocked off defending champion Valentin Vacherot.
The Rankings
There are no new rankings this week. Here are a few preview nuggets based on the live rankings.
–Novak Djokovic will fall out of the Top 10 again
-As of Tuesday morning in China, Flavio Cobolli is in the Top 5, but Felix Auger-Aliassime or Alex de Minaur could spoil that party with long runs in Shanghai. Cobolli has never been in the Top 5.
–Valentin Vacherot will crash out of the Top 30—from his career-high perch of No. 14—after his 3rd Round exit as defending Shanghai champion. The Monagasque was ranked No. 204 when he shocked the tennis world by winning the tournament in 2025. He woke up the next day No. 40.
–Stefanis Tsitsipas will be back in the Top 40 for the first time since February. He was in the Top 10 as recently as April 2025. –Arthur Rinderknech will drop of the Top 60—from No. 33—after missing Shanghai with an abdominal injury. Lost in Vacherot’s win in Shanghai last year was that his final opponent was Rinderknech. He was ranked No. 54 at the time. He was, and still is, Vacherot’s cousin.
ATP: Zverev, still never ranked No. 1, clinched year-end honor
Dan Lauletta
Alexander Zverev’s pursuit of the No. 1 ranking is over before it is complete. In an anomaly created by the season-ending injury to Jannik Sinner, Zverev has clinched the No. 1 ranking for the year even though he has never held the spot and will not until November. Carlos Alcaraz’ 3rd Round loss to Zizou Bergs means he no longer has enough points at his disposal to catch Zverev, who won the French and US Opens for his first two Grand Slam wins. Sinner remains No. 1 at least through October and possibly until after the Paris Masters the first week in November. Zverev will eventually become the 30th player to hold the No. 1 ranking since they were launched August 23, 1973. He will be the oldest to reach the penthouse for the first time.
Alive and well in Shanghai; Alcaraz, Djokovic out
Zverev is the top seed in Shanghai and is through to the Round of 16 and will play Alexander Bublik who took out in-form American Brandon Nakashima in the 3rd. The other 4th Round match in Zverev’s Blue Quarter is Alez de Minaur against Karen Khachanov. De Minaur had to retire from the Beijing final against Novak Djokovic two weekends ago and then got a gift when, after his bye, he advanced on a walkover from Alex Molcan. He then played some tennis and beat Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto.
The Red Quarter has opened up a golden opportunity for Jakub Mensik after all three Top 10 players—Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Novak Djokovic went out early. Mensik will play Arthur Gea who took down Shelton in a pair of tiebreaks to book his place in the Top 50 for the first time. The other match here is Alejandro Davidovich Fokina against Hubert Hurkacz. Davidovich Fokina is enjoying a solid season and beat Frances Tiafoe in a 3rd-set tiebreak. Kurkacz dispatched Djokovic who could not bring his Beijing magic south to Shangahi.
The Green Quarter offers a pair of intriguing clashes. Rafael Jodar, 20, may have to defer his Top 10 dreams until 2027 but is returning to form and advanced with a nice win over Jiri Lehecka. He will play Botic van de Zandschulp whose nice fall continued with an upset of Arthur Fils. The other Round of 16 match is Felix Auger-Aliassime against Casper Ruud. Alcaraz’ loss disrupted the Purple Quarter and his vanquisher Zizou Bergs will play his first 4th Round match at a Masters 1000 or Grand Slam when he takes on Tommy Paul. Also Daniil Medvedev will take on resurgent Stefanos Tsitsipas. Paul knocked off defending champion Valentin Vacherot.
The Rankings
There are no new rankings this week. Here are a few preview nuggets based on the live rankings.
–Novak Djokovic will fall out of the Top 10 again
-As of Tuesday morning in China, Flavio Cobolli is in the Top 5, but Felix Auger-Aliassime or Alex de Minaur could spoil that party with long runs in Shanghai. Cobolli has never been in the Top 5.
–Valentin Vacherot will crash out of the Top 30—from his career-high perch of No. 14—after his 3rd Round exit as defending Shanghai champion. The Monagasque was ranked No. 204 when he shocked the tennis world by winning the tournament in 2025. He woke up the next day No. 40.
–Stefanis Tsitsipas will be back in the Top 40 for the first time since February. He was in the Top 10 as recently as April 2025. –Arthur Rinderknech will drop of the Top 60—from No. 33—after missing Shanghai with an abdominal injury. Lost in Vacherot’s win in Shanghai last year was that his final opponent was Rinderknech. He was ranked No. 54 at the time. He was, and still is, Vacherot’s cousin.
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