Zverev is on the verge of overtaking Jannik Sinner but is facing criticism: “He uses tricks”

Alexander Zverev is getting closer and closer to the coveted No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings. Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal for the remainder of the year has effectively sealed Sascha’s top spot ahead of schedule; he will reach the top of the world rankings for the first time—it’s now just a matter of time, and he could celebrate during the ATP tournament in Vienna.

However, accusations are coming from Shanghai against the soon-to-be No. 1: tennis player Wu Yibing, who lost in two sets at the Chinese Masters 1000, did not hold back in his criticism of the German athlete. “I definitely enjoyed the match against Alcaraz more because it was a more challenging contest. Today there were little incidents during the match: throwing himself to the ground, complaining about the lights, touching the net band… I don’t think any of that was necessary; it wasn’t a very ‘pure’ match,” were his scathing remarks.

“Obviously, those are little tricks he used to disrupt my rhythm and regain his composure because I was putting him under pressure. Even though I didn’t let it distract me, personally I don’t appreciate that kind of behavior,” Wu continued. During the match, Zverev complained of an ankle problem after a fall but later returned to the court. The German tennis player will face France’s Halys in the round of 16.

According to projections, Zverev could officially claim the top spot in the rankings as early as November 2, or the following week at the latest: it will all depend on the results he achieves in Shanghai and then in Vienna. This milestone comes at the end of an extraordinary season for the German, who won two Grand Slam titles and reached at least the semifinals in all four Grand Slam tournaments.