Zverev Secures World No. 1 Ranking With Griekspoor Win In Vienna

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev (photo: e-motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Christian Hofer)

VIENNA/WASHINGTON, October 29, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Alexander Zverev has always enjoyed a love affair with Vienna. He admits the ATP 500 Erste Bank Open is one of his favorite tournaments of the year and he’s always fared well on Centre Court inside Wiener Stadthalle. In 2021, Zverev won the Vienna title and has been hungry and motivated to add to his earlier success in Austria.

On Thursday evening, the 29-year-old World No. 2 from Germany put on a solid performance to beat 50th-ranked Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, 6-4, 7-5, in one hour and 35 minutes. The triumph not only advanced Zverev to his sixth-career Vienna quarterfinal; it was a career-defining victory that soon will elevate the Hamburg native to World No. 1. 

Zverev is set to become the 30th World No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history when he passes current No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy next Monday. He’s also the second German to become No. 1 after Boris Becker, who rose to No. 1 for 12 weeks in 1991.

“After Germany, this is the perfect place for me to become No. 1,” Zverev said earlier this week during an on-court interview with ATP Media. “It’s a German-speaking region. I absolutely love Vienna. I think the fans are unbelievably supportive of me.”

After saving four match points to escape with a hard-fought, three-set victory over 67th-ranked 20-year-old #NextGenATP rising star Martin Landaluce of Spain during his first-round match on Tuesday night, Zverev had an easier go with Griekspoor, who came in tied with Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada for most indoor wins this season (10), including his run to the European Open title in Brussels on Sunday.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ATP Tour (@atptour)

Zverev’s latest triumph over the 30-year-old Dutchman was his 10th in 13 career meetings and avenged a three-set loss to Griekspoor in Montreal earlier this season. He finished their second-round encounter with 30 winners – including 11 aces – and was lights out on his serve, winning 90 percent (35 of 39) of his first-serve points. Zverev faced no break points on his serve and converted two of six chances against Griekspoor, including in the 11th game of the second set to go ahead 6-5. The top-seeded Zverev outpointed his opponent 66-56.

Upon securing Thursday evening’s victory, Zverev raised his arms in celebration and soaked in the thunderous applause given him during a standing ovation from the crowd. Soon, he raced over to his box and hugged his father and longtime coach, Alexander Zverev Sr.

Following Zverev’s ATP Tour-leading 64th victory of the season – and his 16th career win in Vienna – he was honored in a ceremony on Centre Court. Earlier this year, Zverev won his first two Grand Slam titles, at Roland-Garros and the US Open. He was also a finalist at Wimbledon and a semifinalist at the Australian Open. Additionally, Zverev reached the final at Madrid.

“[It is] very special. To have the feeling to be on the top of the world is amazing,” Zverev said during an on-court interview with ATP Media after Thursday’s triumph. “It is different than winning a tournament or a title, but it’s such a special feeling to know that the No. 1 is going to be next to your name when the new rankings come out. I super happy, I’m super thrilled.”

In Friday’s quarterfinals, Zverev (64-16) will face No. 35 Arthur Fery of Great Britain, who held off 26th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, in two hours and 44 minutes on Glaubandich Court in back of 29 winners.

The victory was Fery’s 18th at tour level and it lifted him into his first Vienna quarterfinal. He saved seven of nine break points he faced and broke Musetti’s serve three times in eight tries. Fery (18-11) outpointed Musetti 99-97.

Alcaraz remains unbeaten at ATP 500 level in 2026

World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz improved to 13-0 at ATP 500 level this season after defeating 95th-ranked qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia, 6-1, 7-6 (11), in one hour and 40 minutes. 

The 23-year-old Spaniard, who has won ATP 500 titles this season in Doha and Tokyo, delighted the Centre Court crowd after becoming the third man to record 30 hard-court wins this season, joining Daniil Medvedev (40) and Alexander Zverev (34). He improved to 23-0 at ATP 500 level since losing to Holger Rune in last year’s Barcelona final.

Basilashvili, who reached the Almaty final last week, was denied by Alcaraz in earning his second Top-10 win of the season. Instead, Alcaraz advanced to his 60th tour-level quarterfinal – his seventh in 10 tournaments played this year – and fifth on indoor hard courts. He put away his 35th victory of the season on his fourth match-point opportunity during a 24-point second-set tiebreaker after earlier saving four set points that would have forced a decider.

During his on-court interview with ATP Media, Alcaraz was asked to assess his performance against Basilashvili. “I would say I played great, overall, from the beginning to the last point,” he said. “I played great tennis and I’m really happy with the performance that I did today.

“In the first set, I was hitting the ball unbelievably; I was feeling great on the court. I felt like he couldn’t play his style. … Then, suddenly, in the second set, I started pretty well, the same as the first set, but that game at 3-2, serving at him with a couple of mistakes, and he raised his level.”

Alcaraz added: “I let him get into the match again. After that I would say it was really close. He was playing great, and obviously that tie-break. [It was] a rollercoaster. He had three easy balls to win the set, and I had three easy balls to win the match. I ended up missing the chances, but I’m just really happy with the way that I fought back.”

Alcaraz recorded 26 winners – nine of them aces – and made 20 unforced errors. He won 72 percent (36 of 50) of his first-swerve points, converted three of seven break points and outpointed Basilashvili 76-64. The Georgian countered with 12 winners but committed 27 unforced errors.

On Friday, Alcaraz (35-5) will face seventh-seeded American Tommy Paul (46-20) of the United States, who rolled to 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 23 Luciano Darderi of Italy on Glaubandich Court to reach the Vienna quarterfinals for the first time.

The World No. 14 from the United States needed just 48 minutes to earn a personal-best 46th win of the season. He hit 10 aces and 29 winners, made just five unforced errors and converted five of nine break points. Paul outpointed Darderi 53-21.

Around the Wiener Stadthalle

• World No. 5 and third seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia continued his hot streak that began after the US Open. After defeating No. 41 Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1) in two hours and 31 minutes Thursday afternoon on Centre Court, Medvedev has now won 18 of 20 matches and reached five quarterfinals in as many events in that time period. 

At a set each but down 5-3 in the decider after being broken by Norrie, Medvedev saved a match point and broke back after gutting out a 22-shot rally, accented with a deftly-hit drop volley winner. After more than two hours, both competitors still were battling for victory. Medvedev consolidated the break for 5-all after earlier coming back from down 3-0 to start the third set.

Energized by his opponent’s comeback, Norrie recovered and fought through a nine-minute, 14-point service hold to go ahead 6-5. However, Medvedev held at love to force a decisive final-set tiebreaker. There, he dominated the tie-break and won it 7-1, capturing seven-straight points.

Medvedev struck 48 winners – including a dozen aces – and saved eight of 11 break points. He broke Norrie’s serve three times in six tries and outpointed him 110-98.

Down and out early in the third set, Medvedev (51-18) pulled through and advanced to his 100th-career ATP Tour quarterfinal. Next, he will face 73rd-ranked French qualifier Adrian Mannarino (21-27) on Friday.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ATP Tour (@atptour)

• Thursday evening’s all-Italian second-round match between World No. 6 and fourth seed Flavio Cobolli and No. 48 Matteo Berrettini was cut short by injury retirement. In their first tour-level meeting, Cobolli was forced to retire after just seven games. Berrettini was ahead 5-2 following just 40 minutes of play. Cobolli was favoring his left hamstring, which was heavily taped.

Like brothers in arms, the 30-year-old Berrettini came over to console his friend and Davis Cup teammate Cobolli, 24, who was visibly in tears while sitting on his bench during the seventh-game changeover. The two sat together talking for several minutes. Each took turns putting their arm around the other.

Eventually, Berrettini helped the tearful Cobolli pack up his equipment bag. Cobolli walked off the court to a standing ovation from the crowd.

“The idea of today was just to come on court and celebrate the journey that we’ve both had from Rome,” Berrettini said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “We were small kids playing tennis on the weekends. …

“I remember the day he chose playing tennis over football. I remember his eyes, the same eyes he has right now. A little kid dreaming of playing the big stages. He deserves to be there. He deserves to have the career he’s having so far. I wish him nothing but the best. I’m going to try to help him as I am around in any way possible. … One day at a time.”

Next, Berrettini, who is through to his fifth Vienna quarterfinal in as many appearances (2019, 2021, 2024-26) will play World No. 10 and fifth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia in a Friday evening quarterfinal. Meanwhile, Cobolli is currently in sixth place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin standings with 3,690 points, trailing fifth-place Daniil Medvedev and ahead of seventh-place Arthur Fils.

• In doubles, Americans Ryan Seggerman and Learner Tien advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Austrian wild cards Lukas Neumayer and Jurij Rodionov in 42 minutes on Glaubandich Court. Seggerman and Tien dropped just three points on their first serve and converted five of 11 break points. They outpointed their opponents 51-24. 

• Next, Seggerman and Tien will face No. 2 seeds Christian Harrison of the United States and Neal Skupski of Great Britain, who eased past Brazilian duo Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos, 6-3, 6-4, in one hour and 18 minutes on Fairplay Court. The American/British duo combined to hit nine aces and won 87 percent (33 of 38) of their first-serve points. They saved both break points they faced and converted two of seven opportunities. Harrison and Skupski outpointed the Luz and Matos 59-42.

• Meanwhile, Argentine qualifiers Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over Ignacio Buse of Peru and Luciano Darderi of Italy in one hour and 30 minutes on Fairplay Court. Gonzalez and Molteni, who outscored their opponents 71-56, will face fellow Argentines Fernando Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the last eight.

• Finally, Lucas Miedler and Neil Oberleitner of Austria went the distance to defeat Petr Nouza of Czechia and Michael Venus of New Zealand, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8, in one hour and 19 minutes on the Glaubandich Court Thursday evening. The Austrians, who combined to hit 11 aces and outpointed their opponents 65-58, advanced to the quarterfinals against No. 1 seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain.

Thursday’s Erste Bank Open results

Friday’s Erste Bank Open order of play

By the numbers

Alexander Zverev (at 29 years 196 days on Nov. 2) will become the second-oldest first-time ATP World No. 1 player next Monday, behind John Newcombe, who ascended to No. 1 on June 3, 1974 at age 30 years 11 days.

“Quotable …”

“I like to play on big courts. I play better, I think, with bigger courts always. In my career, I always played good [on them]. I had quite good wins in Almaty. Seven matches I played, and in the end, I got tired against Daniil, in the second or third set. Here I had one day off, so let’s see how it goes. I need to rest well and prepare.”

– No. 95 Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia, as quoted by the ATP Tour website, after his first-round win over Jurij Rodionov of Austria Wednesday evening before facing World No. 3 and second seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.

 

Search

Brigitte Urban
Tennis photographer
camera lens

International Blogs

Michael Dickens

A Czech Legacy Continues With Its Latest Billie Jean King Cup Success

October 1, 2026

Florian Heer

Carlos Bernardes: Vom Schiedsrichterstuhl zum Challenger-Turnierdirektor

April 22, 2026

Podcast

Categories