“I think I deserve to be where I am”: Alexander Zverev hits back at critics after losing first match as world No. 1

Wednesday, 04 November 2026 at 21:00

Alexander Zverev's first appearance as the world's top-ranked player ended in disappointment at the Paris Masters, where Lorenzo Musetti handed him a 7-6(5), 6-2 defeat in the second round. But the German's exit was followed by a pointed response to the scrutiny surrounding his rise to No. 1.

The 29-year-old had officially reached the summit of the ATP rankings on Monday, becoming the 30th player to hold the men's world No. 1 position. His promotion followed a remarkable 2026 campaign in which he captured his first two Grand Slam titles, winning both Roland-Garros and the US Open.

However, the discussion around his achievement has not been entirely celebratory. Questions have been raised about the circumstances behind his rise, particularly with Jannik Sinner sidelined for the remainder of the season and Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner having dominated the top ranking in recent years.

Zverev arrived in Paris already frustrated by the debate, and his defeat gave him another reason to address it. On court, Musetti made sure the new No. 1's first match in that position would be a difficult one.

The Italian, ranked 24th, produced an impressive performance to win in one hour and 42 minutes, extending his head-to-head advantage over Zverev to 4-2 and securing his place in the last 16.

Zverev admits one of his worst performances in recent months

The opening set offered Zverev an opportunity to take control, but he failed to make the most of it. The German led 5-2 in the tiebreak before Musetti won five consecutive points to take the set 7-6(5). That turnaround proved decisive, with the Italian carrying his momentum into the second set and breaking twice to complete the victory.

Zverev did not attempt to disguise his disappointment when asked to assess the performance. Rather than point to the conditions or the pressure of playing as world No. 1, he gave a blunt explanation of the result. "To simplify it, he played really good and I played really bad," Zverev said in press conference.

The German was even more critical when asked what he needed to improve before the ATP Finals in Turin, which begin on November 15. "Probably everything because I think this was not a very good match for me. I think maybe one of the worst in the last couple of months," he admitted.

Although he acknowledged that the court was particularly fast, Zverev refused to use it as an excuse. "The court was very, very fast, but I actually think that this is the court that it should be during the indoor season. Yeah, I was bad. It's quite simple. There's no excuses. It's like that."

“I'm the only world No. 1 in tennis history” who has to justify his position

The more revealing part of Zverev's press conference came when he was asked whether playing his first match as world No. 1 had made him nervous.

"Stress? I don't know if stress. I was a bit annoyed, to be honest, the last couple of days because, you know, achieving the world number one status is something that I think every player dreams of," he explained.

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"But then I feel like I'm the only world number one in tennis history that has to explain why it's okay for me to be world number one, which I find quite difficult because I think I deserve to be where I am."

Zverev added that the amount of scrutiny surrounding his achievement had become particularly frustrating, making clear that he believed his season justified his position at the top of the rankings. "I don't think anybody has to explain themselves as much as I had to do in the last couple of days, which for me is annoying, to be honest."

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The defeat does not change Zverev's position at the top of the rankings or his place at the ATP Finals, for which he has already qualified. Instead, it leaves him with a disappointing result to address before the season-ending tournament, where he will have another opportunity to demonstrate why he believes he deserves to be No. 1.

For now, his first match as the world's leading player has produced two very different assessments: an unusually harsh verdict on his own tennis and an equally firm defence of his status.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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