Alexander Zverev said he was annoyed by criticism of his rise to world No. 1 after losing to Lorenzo Musetti at the Paris Masters. The German fell 7-6(5), 6-2 in the match and addressed the comments at his post-match press conference.
Zverev reached the top of the rankings for the first time after Jannik Sinner said he would not play again in 2026 because of a knee injury. Carlos Alcaraz also missed more than four months this year with a wrist problem. The injuries have prompted comments suggesting they contributed to Zverev’s ascent.
Asked whether he had felt stress during the defeat, Zverev said frustration was closer to what he had experienced. He said becoming world No. 1 was a goal many players share, but felt he had faced unusual scrutiny over whether he deserved the ranking. He added that, despite the loss, he believed he belonged at the top.
Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski defended Zverev on his podcast. He pointed to the German’s results, including reaching the Australian Open semi-finals, winning the French Open, making the Wimbledon final and claiming a second major title in New York. Rusedski said Zverev’s ranking was deserved.
Sources: Tennis365.