Germany's Alexander Zverev clinches tennis No. 1 ranking

A German male tennis player had not reached No. 1 in 35 yearsImage: Achmad Ibrahim/AP Photo/dpa/picture allianceAdvertisementGerman tennis star Alexander Zverev is set to become the new world No. 1 in tennis, capping a successful year where he won two Grand Slams.

Zverev is the second German man, after Boris Becker, to clinch the top spot in the sport. Becker reached No.1 some 35 years ago.

Zverev replaces Italy's Jannik Sinner, who previously held the world's No. 1 spot.

Zverev got there by reaching the quarter-finals of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna this week.

He is also the second-oldest first-time No. 1 ranked player after Australian John Newcombe.

"(It is) very special. To have the feeling to be on the top of the world is amazing," Zverev said.

"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."

Among German female tennis players, only Steffi Graf and Angelique Kerber have achieved this in the WTA rankings.

Zverev's career had been defined by getting close to Grand Slam titles but never quite reaching them, facing stiff competition from Sinner and Spanish talent Carlos Alcaraz. 

The Hamburg-born also won a gold medal in the 2021 Olympics.

But his tennis career finally had its breakthrough this year, when he won the Grand Slam at both the French and US Opens.

Known for his consistency, he was just the ninth man to reach at least the semifinals at all four majors in the same season.

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