Today's Edition
(DPA)
VIENNA (AFP) -Alexander Zverev is set to become world number one for the first time in his career after he beat Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the Vienna Open.
The 29-year-old German was already assured of finishing the season top of the ATP rankings but, in the absence of current incumbent Jannik Sinner, two-time Grand Slam champion Zverev will now take that crown in next week's updated standings after winning his opening two matches in the Austrian capital.
The Hamburg-born player will replace Italy’s Sinner next Monday and become the second German man, after Boris Becker, to take the top spot.
Zverev is only the 30th tennis player to top the ATP world rankings, which were introduced in 1973.
The last German male tennis player to hold the top spot was Becker, some 35 years ago. Among German female tennis players, only Steffi Graf and Angelique Kerber have achieved this in the WTA rankings.
"It's a dream come true," Zverev had said a good two weeks ago, when it was clear he could no longer be pipped to the top spot at the end of the year. "It takes so much work and effort to achieve this goal."
