Zverev In Danger Of Losing German No. 1 Spot For First Time in 7 Years

| by Alfredo Bassanelli

For the first time since becoming his country's highest-ranked player, Alexander Zverev can lose the spot.

August 29th, 2016 is the last date when Alexander Zverev wasn't the highest-ranked German on the ATP Tour. Back then, he was 28th as only 19-year-old up and coming star. His more experienced, 32-year-old compatriot, Philipp Kohlschreiber was ranked 26th, but the next week, the teenager surpassed him in the rankings.

Zverev improved to 27th position while the 32-year-old moved to 30th place and he never managed to catch the teenager again. Zverev then finished the year as world no. 24 and next year a Top 10 breakthrough awaited him, with number four as the season-finishing position.

Since then, he ended every season in the Top 10 until a career-changing injury that he picked up during the semifinal clash at the 2022 Roland Garros against Rafael Nadal. Zverev then missed the remainder of the season and finished it 12th.

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Ahead of the 2023 Madrid Open, he was ranked 16th, but since he was defending last year's final appearance, the German will drop by at least six positions after losing to Carlos Alcaraz. It will also be the first time in six years that he will exit the Top 20 and another stat can change in German tennis.

After the 2023 Madrid Open, Alexander Zverev doesn't have to be the highest-ranked male player. Lucky loser Jan Lennard Struff overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas and he will play against Aslan Karatsev for the spot in the final.

Should he beat the Russian and then overcome also Carlos Alcaraz, who became the first finalist, Struff will move to 21st place in the rankings and send his compatriot to position no. 23, becoming the highest-ranked player of his country.

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