Alexander Zverev scored a second-round victory of major significance at the Erste Bank Open Thursday, when he defeated Tallon Griekspoor to advance to the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 event.
The top-seeded German produced a typically composed display to defeat last week's Brussels champion Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5. With the victory, Zverev ensured he will become World No. 1 when the next edition of the PIF ATP Rankings is released on Monday, 2 November.
"[It is] very special. To have the feeling to be on the top of the world is amazing," Zverev said of his achievement, following his one-hour, 35-minute triumph. "It is different than winning a tournament or a title, but it's such a special feeling to know that the No. 1 is going to be next to your name when the new rankings come out.
"I was super focused and super motivated for multiple reasons. But, of course, being number one was a big subject. I think I played a very good match. And I am very happy about that."
The 29-year-old German, who earlier this year clinched his first two major crowns at Roland Garros and US Open, is set to become the first German player to climb atop the rankings since Boris Becker in 1991. Zverev will be the 30th member of the exclusive ATP No. 1 Club.
In his second-round clash with Griekspoor, Zverev claimed one break each in each both sets to improve to 10-3 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the Dutchman. Although Griekspoor defeated the German earlier this season in Montreal, he was unable to match Zverev’s level in this encounter.
While Zverev made inroads on Griekspoor’s serve, he also delivered a composed performance behind his own delivery. The top seed finished having fired 11 aces and won 90 per cent (35/39) of his first-serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to advance to his sixth quarter-final at the Austrian ATP 500 event. Zverev has now earned 10 wins against the same opponent for the first time in his career.
Improving to 64-16 on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and advancing to his Tour-leading 13th quarter-final of the season, Zverev will now face this year's semi-finalist Arthur Fery for a place in the last four in Vienna.
Fery outlasted last week's Lyon champion Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 44 minutes. The 24-year-old Briton crucially saved seven of the nine break points he faced to overcome the Italian.
