Alexander Zverev ATP ATP Masters 1000

Zverev is the fourth tennis player in history to finish a year ranked number 1 without winning a single Masters 1000

Diego Jiménez Rubio - 9 Nov 2026
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Alexander Zverev, number 1 without Masters 1000. Photo: Getty Images

Alexander Zverev has had a season that is both spectacular and worthy, yet atypical. Many still believe that the reason he finished as number 1 in the world is more due to the absence of Sinner and Alcaraz for an extended period than any substantial change in his game, but the truth is that the German can be proud of what he has achieved.

That does not detract from the fact that there are surprisingly notable statistics in the season of someone who, according to the ATP ranking, has been the best of the entire year. Along with the already known negative record against top-10 rivals, there is the fact that he finished the year without winning a single Masters 1000. This should not be usual for a player of Sascha's stature, although it has happened to him six times already, but it is even less common to see it in a number 1.

Zverev is the only number 1 without Masters 1000 and two Grand Slams in that season

So much so that only in four seasons throughout history has someone who ended up at the top of the ATP ranking done so without any Masters 1000 titles to their name. It is important to note that this count is made from 1990, the year when these tournaments were structured in a way comparable to the current format and statistically comparable.

The list starts with Stefan Edberg, who solidified his number 1 ranking at the end of 1991 with six titles, one of which was the US Open, but none being a Masters 1000. Pete Sampras did it also in 1996 and 1998. In 1996, it is true that he won the ATP Finals, the US Open, and six other titles, but in 1998 he only added four, one of which was Wimbledon. In 2001, it was Lleyton Hewitt who achieved this success without accumulating any Masters 1000.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev es el cuarto tenista de la historia que termina un año número 1 sin ganar ni un Masters 1000