Alexander Zverev's grip on the world No. 1 tennis ranking appears precarious after his girlfriend, Sophia Thomalla, celebrated his achievement with an Instagram post that has quickly "aged like milk." Zverev, who reached the pinnacle of the sport for the first time on Monday, was upset in the Round of 32 at the Paris Masters on Wednesday.
Thomalla, a German influencer, had taken to Instagram to express her pride, sharing photos of Zverev with trophies and his team displaying the No. 1 sign. Her caption read, "Couldn't be prouder of you. You deserve every bit of this. ❤️🏆 Nr. 1!! Common!!" She also posted a humorous photo of their dog, stating, "When your dad finally becomes world No. 1 and you can relax for the first time in your life."
However, the celebratory mood was short-lived. Zverev, 29, lost in straight sets to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in Paris, marking his first match since ascending to the top of the ATP rankings. This early exit in the same city where he won the French Open earlier in 2026 has put his newly acquired world No. 1 status in jeopardy.
Zverev has enjoyed a highly successful 2026 season, which included victories at the French Open and the U.S. Open, as well as the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. These triumphs allowed him to overtake Italy's Jannik Sinner in the rankings. Despite his career-best season, Zverev remains one of tennis's more polarizing figures, with a segment of fans actively rooting against him. His swift departure from the Paris Masters will likely be met with satisfaction by those critics.