With a win over Tallon Griekspoor, Alexander Zverev would officially overtake Jannik Sinner in the ATP Rankings and become the world No. 1 on Monday. However, Zverev faced an in-form Griekspoor, who won the Brussels title last weekend and beat No. 18 Brian Nakashima in the first round in Vienna.
The German two-time Slam winner got off to a promising start in Vienna, breaking Griekspoor at first time of asking. The Dutch No. 2 improved his service from there on out, but couldn't stop Zverev from comfortably clinching the first set with an ace after 40 minutes.
Zverev nearly started the second set as he did the first by forcing an early break point, but Griekspoor recovered to stay in the contest for the time being. The two didn't give each other a second to breathe in their service games, with just four total return points being scored between the second and tenth games.
After a series of fantastic points from both players, Zverev got to break point for the second time in the set, with both players at five games apiece. Griekspoor fended off the first with a rocket serve, but had no answer to Zverev's second break point, allowing the German to serve for the match.
With match points in sight, Zverev committed an unforced error, but he turned it into a mere bump in the road by finishing a volley (which wrecked part of the advertising board) and capped off his historic match with an ace to beat Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5.
With his win, Zverev officially takes over as the World No. 1, ending Jannik Sinner's 95-week reign.
