Alexander Zverev will finish the season as the year-end world No. 1 for the first time in his career after winning his first two Major titles at the French Open and US Open. Flavio Cobolli, who lost to Zverev in the Roland Garros final, believes Sinner and Alcaraz remain the stronger players but insists Zverev deserves his top ranking.
Zverev defends his ranking amid scrutiny
Despite becoming a multi-Grand Slam champion and reaching the top of the rankings, Zverev said he still faces questions about his position. Speaking at the Paris Masters, where he lost his first match as world No. 1 in the opening round, he said: "I was a bit annoyed, to be honest, the last couple of days, because achieving the world No. 1 status is something that I think every player dreams of."
"But then I feel like I'm the only world No. 1 in tennis history that has to explain why it's okay for me to be world No. 1, which I find quite difficult, because I think I deserve to be where I am, even though I lost today."
Injuries to rivals and Cobolli's view
Many have noted that Zverev capitalised on difficult periods for Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, both sidelined by injuries this year. Alcaraz spent four-and-a-half months out of competition, missing the French Open and Wimbledon, while Sinner has not played since July due to a knee injury. Zverev lost to both players when he faced them this year and beat just one top-10 player en route to his two Grand Slam titles, Ben Shelton in the US Open final.
Cobolli, who reached a maiden Grand Slam final at Roland Garros before losing to Zverev in five sets, told Corriere: "If you finish the year at the top, the controversy is zero. It's been a difficult season for everyone, but not for him. Sascha clearly did things better than the others."
"Jannik and Carlos are still the strongest in my opinion, but if you're No. 1, it means you've worked hard, that you've managed situations well. Not getting hurt, at this level, is a great quality. Perhaps, at the moment, the most difficult and desired. Sascha was willing to take everything after a long wait. He deserves it."
Cobolli set for ATP Finals debut
Cobolli will make his ATP Finals debut this coming week after a career-best season. The 24-year-old has been drawn in the Ivan Lendl group with Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Frances Tiafoe, and will face Medvedev in his first of three round-robin matches on Monday.
"The Finals are the culmination of a collective dream, not just mine. I've never felt the weight of the sacrifices of a tennis professional. This is the life I wanted," Cobolli said ahead of his debut.
