PARIS.- Become world number 1 this Monday for the first time in his career at the age of 29, Alexander Zverev He claimed to feel “a different emotion” than the one he experienced when he lifted his first trophy. grand slam at the beginning of June in Roland Garros.
“In Paris, When I won my first Grand Slam, it was a different kind of emotion, because I thought maybe I would never achieve it,” Zverev explained in the press conference prior to the Paris Masters 1000.
“I have experienced many disappointments, difficult moments, defeats in finals; it was a different feeling to finally achieve it. It was the greatest relief I have ever felt in my career,” added Zverev.
His accession to the world throne was celebrated this Monday with a ceremony of about ten minutes on the center court of the Plenitude Arenaon the outskirts of Paris.
“To become world number 1, you have to have the best season possible for an entire year, it is a completely different feeling. After a Grand Slam, the week ends and you know that you have won, you can celebrate. Here I have the impression that you have to continue working every day” to maintain the position of world number 1, he compared.
“In Vienna I secured the world number 1 position, but I had to play the next day and also the day after that. I also have to play here in two days, so I’m not going to celebrate too much. I think it will be time to celebrate after the Davis Cup“, whose final phase will be held from November 24 to 29, estimated the German.
Become world number 1 at the end of a season in which Jannik Sinner (five Grand Slam titles) and Carlos Alcaraz (seven major trophies) spent several months out due to injuries, Zverev declared himself “impatient” to face the two former world number 1s “in top form.”
Congratulations from the greats
During the ceremony on center court, the German received the world number 1 trophy from the president of the ATP, Andrea Gaudenzi, and the director of Paris Masters 1000, Cédric Pioline.
Zverev later received, in a video, congratulations from eight former kings of the circuit: Rafael Nadal, Sinner, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Jimmy Connors, Thomas Muster, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Gustavo Kuerten.
“It is very special to celebrate the world number 1 position here in Paris,” said Zverev, who tore the ligaments in his right ankle in the semifinals of Roland Garros in 2022 against Nadal, before winning his first major trophy in the French capital four years later.
