Boris Becker defends Alexander Zverev’s ATP year-end No. 1 despite rival injuries

Boris Becker has vehemently defended Alexander Zverev's claim to the ATP year-end No. 1 ranking, dismissing critics who argue that the German’s achievement was largely due to the injuries sidelining his main rivals, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev, who has mathematically secured the top spot for the 2026 season, has faced scrutiny given that both Sinner and Alcaraz missed significant portions of the year. However, Becker insists such criticism is unfounded and undermines the hard work that earned Zverev this milestone.

Zverev’s year-end No. 1 status was confirmed following Alcaraz’s surprising third-round exit at the Shanghai Masters, where he lost 7-5, 7-6(4) to Zizou Bergs. Sinner, who had led the rankings earlier in the season, withdrew from the remainder of the year due to a knee injury, eliminating any chance of overtaking Zverev. This historic accomplishment makes Zverev the first German man to finish a season atop the ATP rankings, a feat Becker himself never managed despite reaching No. 1 in 1991. At 29 years and 217 days, Zverev also becomes the oldest player to claim the year-end No. 1 title for the first time. It is important to note that Sinner still holds the weekly No. 1 ranking, with Zverev’s earliest opportunity to claim that coming on November 2.

Addressing the controversy on his podcast alongside former top-10 player Andrea Petkovic, Becker praised Zverev’s consistency and resilience. “Congratulations to Sascha Zverev. He has entered a very illustrious circle, the club of 30, the 30th No 1 in the world since the early 70s,” Becker said. “Nothing is given to you for free. It’s a tough job, you can’t just play one tournament; you have to be the best player in the world for months on end. He has literally earned it through his own hard work. He really found his game through fighting for it.”

While acknowledging that injuries to Sinner and Alcaraz influenced the rankings race, Becker firmly rejected the notion that these circumstances diminish Zverev's achievement. “He can only beat the opponents he has to face on the court,” he emphasized. Becker also confronted criticism regarding Zverev’s head-to-head records against his top rivals this season—having lost all five encounters with Sinner, as well as his only meetings with Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. “I say that is total nonsense,” Becker declared, highlighting the difference between individual match results and sustained excellence across an entire season.

Zverev’s breakthrough at the Grand Slam level further cements his credentials. After years of near misses, he captured his first major titles at Roland Garros and the US Open in 2026, also reaching the Wimbledon final and the Australian Open semifinals. This marked a dramatic evolution for a player who previously had three Grand Slam runner-up finishes. His resurgence follows a challenging recovery from a severe ankle injury sustained during the 2022 French Open semifinals against Rafael Nadal, which sidelined him for the rest of that season.

Having previously finished inside the year-end top 10 eight times—including five seasons in the top five—Zverev’s 2026 campaign now features his first two major victories and the coveted year-end No. 1 ranking. Although the weekly No. 1 ranking remains undecided with the Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and ATP Finals still forthcoming, Zverev has solidified his place in tennis history with this season-long feat.

Becker’s unequivocal defense of Zverev challenges detractors to recognize the German’s relentless consistency and dedication. “He has earned it through his own hard work,” Becker reiterated, leaving no doubt that Zverev’s rise to the summit is a testament to merit, not mere circumstance.