Zverev starts Paris Masters as world No. 1 for the first time as Jodar wins and Turin race heats up

Alexander Zverev began the week as world No. 1 for the first time. The German took the top spot in the ATP Rankings on Monday 2 November, the same day the Rolex Paris Masters main draw started. Paris is the last Masters 1000 event of 2026 and the final stop in the race for the Nitto ATP Finals, which still has four places to fill. Rafael Jodar, 20, started his bid for one of those places with a straight-sets win on day one.

Zverev finally reaches the summit

Zverev made sure of the No. 1 ranking the week before by reaching the quarter-finals in Vienna, and he replaced Jannik Sinner at the top on Monday. According to the ATP, he is the 30th man to hold No. 1 since the rankings began. At 29 years and six months, he is the second-oldest first-time No. 1 after John Newcombe. He is also the second German man to reach No. 1, after Boris Becker in January 1991.

His 2026 season explains the rise. He won his first two Grand Slam titles, at Roland Garros and the US Open. He also reached the Wimbledon final and the Australian Open semi-finals. The ATP says he is already guaranteed to finish the year as No. 1. Speaking about reaching the top, Zverev said, "To have the feeling to be on the top of the world is amazing."

As top seed in Paris, Zverev has a first-round bye. His first opponent is Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(3), 7-6(10) on Monday.

Four Turin places still open

The Race to Turin ends in Paris. Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton and Daniil Medvedev have already qualified for the eight-man Nitto ATP Finals. Sinner is second in the Race but is out for the rest of the season, so the last place goes to the player who finishes ninth.

Before Monday's matches, Tennis Majors' Race table had Flavio Cobolli sixth, home favourite Arthur Fils seventh, Frances Tiafoe eighth and Alex de Minaur ninth. Jodar was tenth, one point behind de Minaur. Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul were close behind. All of these players are seeded in Paris, and the top eight seeds have first-round byes.

Tennis Majors worked out the targets. A quarter-final would make Cobolli safe. Fils needs a semi-final to be certain. Tiafoe and de Minaur need to reach the final. Djokovic, a record seven-time Paris champion, would only be certain of a place by winning the title.

Jodar starts with a win

Jodar is seeded ninth in Paris. He beat Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3 on Monday. The ATP says this result put him back inside the qualifying places in the Live Race. On the same day he entered the top 10 for the first time, 287 days after his tour-level debut in January. The ATP says that is the quickest any player has gone from debut to the top 10.

His next opponent is Casper Ruud, who beat qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2 without facing a break point. It was Ruud's first win in Paris since 2022.

Other first-round winners on Monday included home player Luca Van Assche, Peru's Ignacio Buse, Britain's Cameron Norrie and Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata. Buse plays fourth seed Medvedev next.

Djokovic and Fritz in action on Tuesday

Djokovic, seeded 10th, was drawn against Basel champion Valentin Vacherot on Tuesday. Fritz faces Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, and Paul plays Holger Rune. Play in Paris starts at 11am local time, or 6pm in Malaysia, from Monday to Thursday. The singles final is on Sunday 8 November, not before 3pm in Paris, or 10pm Malaysia time.

The Nitto ATP Finals take place at the Inalpi Arena in Turin from 15 to 22 November.

Key takeaways

• Alexander Zverev became world No. 1 for the first time on 2 November 2026, at 29 years and six months old.
• He is the 30th ATP No. 1 and the second German man to reach No. 1, after Boris Becker.
• Paris decides the last four places at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin (15–22 November).
• Rafael Jodar beat Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3 and plays Casper Ruud next.
• The Paris singles final is on Sunday 8 November, not before 10pm Malaysia time.

FAQ

When did Alexander Zverev become world No. 1? He became No. 1 in the ATP Rankings on Monday 2 November 2026, replacing Jannik Sinner. He made sure of the ranking by reaching the Vienna quarter-finals the week before.

Who has already qualified for the 2026 Nitto ATP Finals? Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton and Daniil Medvedev. Jannik Sinner also qualified but is out for the rest of the season, so the Race places from fifth to ninth decide the other four spots.

What time is the Paris Masters final in Malaysia? The singles final is on Sunday 8 November, not before 3pm Paris time. That is 10pm in Malaysia.

Sources: ATP Tour, Tennis Majors, Wikipedia