Who is the best player in the world? Alexander Zverev throws his name in the hat following US Open heroics

Alexander Zverev clinched his second Grand Slam title in formidable fashion. His 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 victory over the home favourite Ben Shelton has asserted his place at the top of the sport. When asked whether he is the best player in the world, he pondered before delivering a striking answer.

The German had not played a top 20 player throughout the entire tournament ahead of the final showdown against Shelton. The number eight seed had previously shown his class with a much tougher route involving Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe. Nevertheless, Zverev proved to be one step too far.

In just over three and a half hours, Zverev had managed to double his Grand Slam tally and continue his brilliant 2026 season, in which he has finally managed to shake off the burden on his back. From missing the main accolade on his CV, he can now boast two of them while making up for that miserable ending six years ago against Dominic Thiem.

He has won more Grand Slam titles than Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in 2026 and has crept ahead of the Spaniard in the rankings while considerably closing the gap to his Italian rival. This begs the question whether he is the best player in the world.

The 29-year-old had to think long and hard before answering that intriguing question. "I don't know how to answer that. You have to take everything into consideration," he said in his press conference.

The caveat being injuries has played favourably towards Zverev in recent times compared to his two rivals. "With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now, at this moment, probably yes.

However, he went back on himself and admitted when both were not injury-stricken, then it would be different. "Both of them healthy and both of them at the top of the game? Maybe not. But if we say right now, with Jannik being injured and Carlos coming back from injury, maybe."

"I mean, four or five months ago, when both of them were healthy, I wasn't. I was losing to Jannik all the time. So if everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It's as simple as that."

Zverev has faced off against the big two six times in 2026, winning a grand total of zero matches. First up was his battle against Alcaraz in Melbourne. It was going the way of the eventual champion before a bout of cramp allowed Zverev to fight back, leading by a break in the fifth and deciding set. Alcaraz would battle back and, with a late flourish, sealed a fourth win over Zverev in their last five matchups.

It is a lot worse against Sinner. Despite playing him five times, Zverev has won more sets against Alcaraz in 2026 than against the World No.1. In fact, the last time Zverev defeated Sinner came back at the 2023 US Open. Three years, 10 contests, zero triumphs. Daunting figures for the two-time major champion.

That is where the debate begins when putting Zverev amongst the current best. Yes he has won two of the four Grand Slam titles this year while reaching the semi-final and final of the other two, but his head-to-head record against his main rivals has been woeful.

Even when you look at his Grand Slam campaigns, the two he won saw one of Alcaraz or Sinner miss out through injury, with the other not making it that far.

Nevertheless, Zverev cannot worry about that, only focusing on who is on the opposite side of the court. His consistency at the highest level has proven to make 2026 the best of his tennis career as he finally breaks new ground in the one elusive area that he had not been able to get.

In conclusion to this argument, Zverev noted that he was not at full health when getting regularly battered by Sinner at Masters 1000 level, but adding with all of them at full health, Sinner is the man on top, notably not including Alcaraz.

"I mean, four or five months ago, when both of them were healthy, I wasn't. I was losing to Jannik all the time. So if everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It's as simple as that."