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Zverev beats Bublik at Shanghai Masters in first match since securing year-end No. 1

Alexander Zverev made history as the first German player to claim the year-end ATP No. 1 ranking in 2026, capping off a landmark season that included his first two Grand Slam titles.

The 29-year-old followed up that achievement by advancing to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters, defeating Kazakh qualifier Alexander Bublik in a tight three-set thriller (7–6(6), 4–6, 7–6(1)) on Tuesday. His victory marked Zverev’s return to action after securing the top ranking, which he officially locked in following Carlos Alcaraz’s unexpected exit in the same tournament.

The win also extended Zverev’s dominance on the court, as he became the oldest player to reach the year-end No. 1 position for the first time in modern tennis history, ending a 35-year drought for German men’s singles players at the top of the rankings.

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