Alexander Zverev was long considered to be one of the best players in tennis history to have not won a Grand Slam title.
That notion was dispelled on Sunday following the German’s victory in the French Open final.
Zverev, who had lost three major finals prior to Sunday’s contest, defeated Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 to clinch his first Grand Slam title.
Who is now the best active ATP player without a Grand Slam title after Alexander Zverev’s French Open victory?
The 29-year-old has now reduced the gap to Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP rankings.
Alcaraz is set to be absent from the Tour for the entire grass-court season after suffering a troubling wrist injury in April.
With Alcaraz’s impending absence noted, can Zverev capitalise and re-gain the world number two spot?
Alexander Zverev could overtake Carlos Alcaraz in the rankings after Wimbledon
Last year, Carlos Alcaraz won the Queen’s Club Championships and finished as runner-up at Wimbledon.
As a result, the 23-year-old is set to lose a total of 1,800 rankings points following the conclusion of Wimbledon on July 12.
Alcaraz, who currently sits on 9,960 ATP ranking points, will see his total fall to 8,160.
Meanwhile, Zverev finished as runner-up at the 2025 Stuttgart Open, a semi-finalist at the Halle Open, and exited Wimbledon in the first round.
Therefore, he is defending 375 ranking points through the grass-court swing.
With so few points to defend, Zverev has the opportunity to surpass Alcaraz in the ATP rankings.
If Zverev were to defend his points ahead of Wimbledon, he would go into the Grand Slam event on 7,305 points – only 855 behind Alcaraz.
The German would then need to reach at least the semi-finals at Wimbledon to overtake the Spaniard.
| Ranking | Player | Points |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | 13,500 |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz | 9,960 |
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | 7,305 |
| 4 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 4,440 |
| 5 | Ben Shelton | 3,920 |
What did Alexander Zverev say after the 2025 Australian Open final?
Prior to Sunday’s contest, Zverev last competed in a Grand Slam final at the 2025 Australian Open.
Sinner dominated throughout the contest, winning 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the Rod Laver Arena.
“It sucks standing next to this thing and not being [able to] to touch it,” the German said during his runner-up speech.
“Congratulations to Jannik, you deserve it. You are the best player in the world by far.
“I was hoping that I could be more of a competitor today but you are just too good, it is as simple as that.
“Congratulations to you and your team, you really deserve it. You have done all the right things and there is nobody who deserves this trophy more.”
Zverev has claimed his maiden major title a year and a half after his crushing loss in Melbourne, and will now forever be known as a Grand Slam champion.