Zverev annoyed by reaction to becoming world number one

After a defeat at the Paris Masters, Alexander Zverev complains that he is the only player who has had "to explain why it's OK" for him to be top of the rankings. Zverev became the oldest man in more than 50 years to become world number one for the first time Alexander Zverev says he has been "annoyed" by the reaction to him becoming world number one. The German, 29, claims he is the only tennis player who "has to explain why it's OK" for him to be top of the rankings. Zverev lost to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti at the Paris Masters on Wednesday – his first match since becoming the ATP Tour's number one for the first time.

He has won his first two Grand Slams titles in 2026, but his success has come in a year in which Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have struggled with injuries. "I don't think anybody had to explain themselves as much as I had to do in the last couple of days, which for me, is annoying, to be honest," Zverev said. Zverev has a 62-8 win-loss record against opponents ranked 11 and below in the world this year – but he has only won three of 12 matches against top-10 players. Before this year's French Open, Sinner and Alcaraz had shared