Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, Alexander Zverev will start 2027 as the world number one.

Zverev secured year-end number one status for the first time in his career after Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shocking defeat early on at the Shanghai Masters. The German is set to become the first man from his country to occupy the top spot in the ATP rankings since Boris Becker in 1991, and could be due a lengthy reign, considering how many points former number one Jannik Sinner will be defending in the first half of next season.

Though he has not beaten either Sinner or Alcaraz in 2026, Zverev has managed to get his hands on two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and the US Open, while also having reached the Wimbledon final.

John Isner reacts to Alexander Zverev’s dominance in 2026

Sinner and Alcaraz have dealt with big injury setbacks this year, but Zverev has stayed healthy all season long, which former American player John Isner finds ‘incredibly impressive’.

Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Isner said of Zverev: “It’s kind of one of those things people always say to me, ‘well, just imagine if you had a return game’. I’m like, yeah, I’d probably be number one in the world. Well, this is what it looks like.

“The guy rarely faces break points. He’s one of the best returners. He’s arguably the best server in the world and he’s definitely one of the best returners in the world; top three or four. Therefore, you add that together, that little cocktail, and it makes you number one in the world.

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“Incredibly impressive, still rolling. He’s played so much and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He hasn’t really taken many weeks off. He’s played everything. You’ve seen Alcaraz get hurt; Sinner’s not playing the rest of the year.

“A lot of guys are getting hurt, whereas Zverev is just the most durable man on tour, and he really has been throughout his whole career, apart from that one freak injury when he rolled his ankle. You never see him missing a tournament for like maintenance things. It’s impressive.

“You’d think he’d throw in a stinker in Shanghai, right? With how much tennis he’s played, but no he’s moving just as well, serving just as well. It’s thoroughly deserved him being number one in the world; very happy for him. The guy is just a workhorse.”

Zverev is through to the semifinals at the Shanghai Masters and will take on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a place in the final.

Alexander Zverev’s chance to tie Boris Becker and John McEnroe

Following the conclusion of the Shanghai Masters, Zverev will have two big titles left to fight for in 2026: the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals. With Sinner out for the remainder of the season, Zverev will have a great chance of winning both, and he can make history in Turin.

Zverev is already a two-time champion at the ATP Finals, having won the year-end title in 2018 and 2021. If he triumphs this year, Zverev will become just the eighth player to win the title three times. Becker and John McEnroe also won exactly three ATP Finals crowns.

Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most ATP Finals titles in history with seven to his name. The Serb is still bidding to qualify for the tournament this year, and will need a deep run at the Paris Masters to give himself a chance of punching his ticket to Turin.