Alexander Zverev won his 20th Masters 1000 match of the season in the third round of the Cincinnati Open, defeating Terence Atmane, 7-6, 7-6.
The big German has now won 20+ Masters 1000 matches in four seasons (2017, 2018, 2024, 2026).
Who is your pick to win the US Open men’s singles title?
Just four men in the format’s history can better that record.
Only the big four have more 20+ win Masters 1000 seasons than Alexander Zverev
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray are the only four players to have recorded more 20+ win Masters 1000 seasons than Zverev, as reported by OptaAce.
Most 20+ win Masters 1000 seasons
- 1. Roger Federer – 12 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017)
- T-2. Novak Djokovic – 11 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
- T-2. Rafael Nadal – 11 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
- 4. Andy Murray – 5 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016)
- 5. Alexander Zverev – 4 (2017, 2018, 2024, 2026)
Zverev is unlikely to catch the ‘big three’ of Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal, but could overtake Murray before the end of his career.
The 29-year-old is remarkably consistent at the Masters 1000 level, and rarely withdraws from events, allowing Zverev to rack up match wins faster than many of his rivals.
In 2026, Zverev has reached three semi-finals and a final across his six completed Masters 1000 tournaments, and had it not been for Jannik Sinner, he may have won even more matches and a few titles.
Alexander Zverev’s 20 Masters 1000 wins in 2026
| Event | Performance | Wins | Defeat |
| Indian Wells | Semi-final | 4 (Matteo Berrettini, Brandon Nakashima, Frances Tiafoe, Arthur Fils) | Jannik Sinner |
| Miami Open | Semi-final | 4 (Marin Damm Jr, Marin Cilic, Quentin Halys, Francisco Cerundolo) | Jannik Sinner |
| Monte Carlo Masters | Semi-final | 3 (Cristian Garin, Zizou Bergs, Joao Fonseca | Jannik Sinner |
| Madrid Open | Final | 5 (Mariano Navone, Terence Atmane, Jakub Mensik, Flavio Cobolli, Alexander Blockx) | Jannik Sinner |
| Italian Open | Fourth round | 2 (Daniel Altmaier, Alexander Blockx) | Luciano Darderi |
| Canadian Open | Second round | 0 | Tallon Griekspoor |
| Cincinnati Open (ongoing) | Fourth round | 2 (Cameron Norrie, Terence Atmane) | – |
Speaking of Sinner, the Italian is likely to join the list before too long, having already recorded three 20+ match-win seasons.
Zverev will be pleased with his win tally, but will be keen to win a title before too long.
For all his success at the sport’s second-tier of events, he hasn’t won a Masters 1000 title since the 2024 Paris Masters.
Perhaps he can change that in Cincinnati…
Who else will Alexander Zverev need to beat to win the Cincinnati Open?
Standing between Zverev and the quarter-finals is the American Tommy Paul.
Paul leads their head-to-head 2-1, but it was Zverev who won the last time they met, at the 2025 Australian Open.
Looking further ahead, the German could play Rafael Jodar or Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals.
Spanish teenager Jodar has been in fine form recently, as has Cobolli, who played Zverev in this year’s French Open final.
Zverev cannot afford to let his level drop in the fourth round or in the quarter-finals if he is to book his place in the final four.
There, he could meet Thiago Agustin Tirante, Jakub Mensik, Arthur Fils, or Alex de Minaur.
He would likely walk onto court as the favourite against all of the above, but that’s not to say he’ll have an easy time of things.
Finally, Zverev may need to beat Taylor Fritz, Daniil Medvedev, or Felix Auger-Aliassime to take the title.
He won’t want to get ahead of himself, though, and will first focus on his last-16 clash with Paul.
Zverev will play Paul for a spot in the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, August 19.
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