ALEXANDER Zverev finally rose to No. 1 in the men’s tennis rankings on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), a reward for a dominant season during which he shed his reputation as a talented underachiever and became a two-time Grand Slam champion. Zverev won the French Open and the US Open, putting to rest his tag as the best player yet to win a Grand Slam. He’s guaranteed the year-end No. 1 ranking, too. “It’s a very special day, for sure,” Zverev said in Paris, where he is set to compete in the Paris Masters this week. “Paris has been quite special to me this year, generally. It’s a place where I had a lot of ups and downs, I had a lot of heartbreak, but this year, winning my first Grand Slam here and becoming world No. 1, it’s a very special feeling.” He became the 30th man to reach No. 1, and the oldest in more than 50 years to top the rankings for the first time. John Newcombe was 30 when he reached the top spot in 1974. Zverev reached the rankings summit more than four years after becoming No. 2. “I had to wait,” he said. “But sometimes you’ve got to wait for the best things in life. I’m super happy, super thrilled.” Despite winning two ATP Finals and an Olympic gold medal, Zverev lost his first three Grand Slam finals, none more disheartening than his first at the 2020 US Open after leading Dominic Thiem two sets to love. But he broke through this year and also reached his first Wimbledon final, falling to Jannik Sinner. He has a 65-17 win-loss record this year. Zverev, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 4, is just the second German man to become No. 1 after Boris Becker. Sinner, on top since April 13, dropped to second, followed by Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner announced the end of his season three weeks ago because of inflammation in his right knee. Alcaraz was hampered by injury and fatigue this season but has returned to full fitness and won the Vienna title on Sunday.