"I say that is total nonsense": Boris Becker hits back at criticism of Alexander Zverev's year-end No. 1

Thursday, 15 October 2026 at 06:30

Boris Becker has defended Alexander Zverev against criticism that he benefited from the injuries of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to secure the ATP year-end No. 1 ranking. The German has mathematically guaranteed that he will finish the 2026 season at the top of the standings, but his achievement has prompted debate because his two biggest rivals have spent significant periods sidelined.

Zverev's year-end status was confirmed after Alcaraz lost 7-5, 7-6(4) to Zizou Bergs in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. Sinner, who had led the rankings earlier in the season, has already withdrawn from the remainder of the year because of a knee injury. Neither player can now overtake Zverev in the race for the season-ending honour.

The achievement marks a major milestone for the 29-year-old, who will become the first German man to finish a season as year-end world No. 1. Becker reached the top of the ATP rankings in 1991, but never ended a calendar year in that position. Zverev will also become the oldest first-time year-end No. 1, at 29 years and 217 days when the final rankings are published on November 23.

However, the year-end honour should not be confused with the weekly ATP ranking. Sinner remains the current world No. 1, and Zverev's earliest opportunity to take over that position is November 2. Becker, who discussed the achievement on his podcast with former top-10 player Andrea Petkovic, believes the German deserves recognition rather than criticism.

Becker rejects criticism over Sinner and Alcaraz injuries

Becker congratulated his compatriot and argued that the achievement reflects the consistency required to lead the season-long standings.

“Congratulations to Sascha Zverev. He has entered a very illustrious circle, let’s say, a very special club, the club of 30, the 30th No 1 in the world since the early 70s,” Becker said. "Congratulations, because 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."

“I found the consistency at the beginning of the year showed that you could already tell this year a different Sascha Zverev is playing tennis compared to last year.”

Alexander Zverev holding the Roland Garros trophy

While acknowledging that injuries to Sinner and Alcaraz affected the race, he rejected the suggestion that those circumstances diminish Zverev's accomplishment. "He can only beat the opponents he has to face on the court," Becker said.

The former six-time Grand Slam champion also pointed to the suggestion that Zverev had not beaten Sinner, Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic during the 2026 season.

According to the figures cited in the discussion, Zverev had lost all five of his meetings with Sinner, as well as his sole encounters with Alcaraz and Djokovic. Becker did not consider those head-to-head records sufficient to invalidate Zverev's season. "I say that is total nonsense," he said.

The argument centres on the difference between winning individual matchups and producing results consistently across an entire calendar year. Zverev has benefited from his rivals' absences, but he has also continued competing and collecting points while they were unable to do so.

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Zverev's Grand Slam breakthrough defines his season

Zverev's case is supported by his results at the four Grand Slam tournaments. After years of coming close to winning a major, he claimed his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros before adding the US Open trophy. He also reached the Wimbledon final and the Australian Open semifinals, giving him a deep run at every major in 2026.

Those results represent a significant change for a player whose previous best Grand Slam achievements included three runner-up finishes. Zverev's progress has also followed his recovery from the serious ankle injury he suffered during the 2022 French Open semifinals against Rafael Nadal, which forced him to miss the remainder of that season.

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The German had finished inside the year-end top 10 on eight previous occasions, including five seasons in the top five, but had never secured the top position. His 2026 campaign has now delivered both his first two major titles and the season-ending ranking milestone.

Zverev's year-end No. 1 status is now settled, even though the weekly ranking remains to be decided. With the Vienna Open, Paris Masters and ATP Finals still on the schedule, he has further opportunities to strengthen his season and potentially claim the outright No. 1 position before the year ends.

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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