Alexander Zverev recently climbed to World No. 2 in the ATP rankings, surpassing Carlos Alcaraz in a move that has sparked significant debate among fans. The rankings shift follows Zverev’s successful campaign at the 2024 Paris Masters, where he defeated Ugo Humbert in the final to claim the prestigious title. However, controversy ensued when a quote, allegedly from Alcaraz, went viral online, appearing to downplay Zverev’s recent accomplishments and highlight Alcaraz’s own superior season achievements. The quote fueled a lively discussion about the fairness of the ranking system and what should weigh most—Grand Slam titles or consistency across tournaments.
Alcaraz and Zverev both entered the 2024 Paris Masters with strong seasons behind them, making them two of the most anticipated competitors. While Alcaraz’s campaign was surprisingly cut short in the third round after an unexpected defeat to Ugo Humbert, Zverev advanced all the way to the final, overcoming Humbert to clinch the title. This win catapulted Zverev to his career-high ranking of World No. 2, a spot he previously held briefly but had not secured for some time. Zverev’s return to this high ranking caps off a season that has seen him rise back to prominence after a challenging period recovering from injury.
Zverev’s climb up the rankings, however, was met with mixed reactions. Many fans voiced their discontent, pointing out that Alcaraz had claimed two Grand Slam titles this year—the French Open and Wimbledon—alongside victories at the Indian Wells Masters and the China Open. Comparatively, Zverev won the Rome Masters and, most recently, the Paris Masters. Although he performed well, he fell to Alcaraz in the final at Roland Garros, which for some fans underscored Alcaraz’s superiority this season. Many argued that Alcaraz’s Grand Slam achievements should have been enough to keep him ahead in the rankings.
Fueling the debate was a viral quote purportedly from Alcaraz, where the young Spaniard seemed to suggest he would prefer his position of World No. 3 with two Grand Slam titles over holding World No. 2 without any. The quote read: “I think if you win two Grand Slams, you’d be at least top 2, but not in ATP obviously (laughs). Anyway, I’d rather be No. 3 and hold two Grand Slams than being No. 2 and not hold any. I think Sascha has done a great job; he won Rome and Bercy.” While the remark captured attention, it was later revealed to be false—Alcaraz had not actually made this statement. In reality, the words had been borrowed from a 2009 comment by Serena Williams, who had faced a similar situation with Dinara Safina in the WTA rankings.
In 2009, despite Serena’s victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, she remained World No. 2, while Safina held the top spot after winning several high-ranking events, including the Madrid Open and Italian Open. Serena’s comments at the time captured her frustration with the ranking system, expressing that she felt her Grand Slam achievements should have justified her being ranked higher. “I’m not super motivated. I think if you hold three Grand Slam titles, maybe you should be No. 1, but not on the WTA Tour obviously,” she said at the time, adding, “I’d rather definitely be No. 2 and hold three Grand Slams in the past year than be No. 1 and not have any.”
The quote attributed to Alcaraz, though inaccurate, brought renewed attention to the ongoing debate about the ATP ranking system and whether consistency or Grand Slam performance should be prioritized. The situation also prompted Alexander Zverev himself to weigh in. Following his Paris Masters win, Zverev acknowledged that although he had risen to No. 2, he still viewed Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the top two players this season. “It’s nice, for sure. It’s nice to be back at the highest position that I have been so far. Of course I want to get higher, but for me still Jannik has the best year this season, for sure, and then Carlos had the second-best year. He won two Grand Slams,” Zverev said in a press conference. He added, “I know that I’m ahead of him in the rankings maybe, but for me he won Wimbledon and Roland Garros. Those are two massive titles. So they are still the two best players in the world, in my opinion, at the moment.”
As the season heads toward its conclusion, both Zverev and Alcaraz will have another opportunity to prove themselves at the ATP Finals, which kick off on November 10 in Turin. This prestigious year-end championship will feature the world’s top eight players, including other standout names like Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Taylor Fritz. The event will provide a stage for Zverev, Alcaraz, and their competitors to make their final case for who truly had the most successful season.
The ranking dispute between Alcaraz and Zverev has also sparked broader discussions within the tennis community about how the ATP points system rewards consistency in tournament play over fewer but more significant victories like Grand Slams. The debate, particularly around Alcaraz’s two Grand Slams versus Zverev’s high Masters 1000 achievements, mirrors the challenges of evaluating success in a sport where winning the most important titles does not necessarily guarantee the highest rank. Regardless of how the rankings stand now, the ATP Finals will likely serve as a compelling finale to an intense and closely contested season.