Alexander Zverev, Ozeki

Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev became the 33rd male Ozeki (=Champion) of the Open Era  last night by reaching the final of the 2020 US Open. Together with reaching the semifinals at the 2020 Australian Open - which, this year, is the grand slam tournament preceding the US Open - this suffices to clear the ‘big hurdle’ (the meaning of ‘Ozeki’ in Japanese). In his semifinal, Zverev had to overcome the durable Pablo Carreno Busta - the 84th male Komusubi (=Junior Champion II) of the Open Era -  in a five-setter. Carreno Busta will be re-promoted to his former rank that he first attained at the 2017 US Open.   

After six years without an Ozeki promotion, Zverev's is the second within two days, after Dominic Thiem was promoted to Ozeki upon reaching the semifinals. Thiem will now be Zverev's opponent in the the final, hence one of the two new Ozeki promotees will also become a first-time grand slam champion. Thiem making the final also means that the third player on an Ozeki run - Danil Medvedev -  fell one win short and will instead just be re-promoted to Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I). The Ozeki and all other Sanyaku career lists will be updated once the tournament is completed.

In the ladies' game, ex-Ozeki Viktoria Azarenka will play Naomi Osaka in tonight's final. Azarenka will return to Ozeki if she wins her third grand slam title (otherwise Sekiwake), while Osaka already re-activiated her Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) status when she made the semifinals. Azarenka's advance also means that Dai-Yokozuna (=great Grand Champion) Serena Williams' quest for a 24th grand slam title - which would have her take #1 spot in our open era ranking - fell a tad short once again.