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Reuters
Rome
German Alexander Zverev says he cannot rest on his laurels after beating Novak Djokovic to win the Italian Open on Sunday and has set his sights on bigger titles in order to retain his place in the world's top 10.
The 20-year-old stunned world number two Djokovic 6-4 6-3 to become the youngest winner of a Masters 1000 tournament since the Serb himself in Miami in 2007.
The win also helped Zverev surge up to number 10 in the world rankings for the first time in his career.
"I could not imagine top 10 by the age of 20,"Zverev told reporters."It's something truly amazing. Getting there is one thing, but staying there is going to be very, very difficult.
"Even though I won this title, I will be back on the practice courts very soon trying to improve my game."
Despite an impressive claycourt season, Zverev downplayed his chances of winning the French Open, which starts on Sunday, saying nine-time winner Rafa Nadal would start as the man to beat.
Nadal had won all 17 matches on clay this year before losing to Austria's Dominic Thiem in the Rome quarter-finals.
"The strong favourite is still definitely Nadal. Novak is playing great again. Thiem has been showing he's been playing very well,"he added.
"I just won here, so I've got to put myself on that list, even though I don't want to say that I'm the favourite myself. But the guys who have been playing the best over the past few weeks are definitely the favourites."
Zverev joins Top 10 after Rome win
Zverev broke into the Top 10 of the latest ATP rankings released on Monday a day after stunning world number two Novak Djokovic to win the Rome Masters.
The 20-year-old Zverev claimed his maiden Masters 1000 title on Sunday with a straight sets win over four-time Rome champion Djokovic.
It was just a fourth career title and third this year for Zverev who moves up seven places to ten ahead of the French Open at Roland Garros from May 28 to June 7.
The top ten remains unchanged with Britain's Andy Murray world number one ahead of Serb Djokovic, the reigning Roland Garros champion.
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro moves up four places to 30th after reaching the Rome quarter-finals.
ATP Rankings
1. Andy Murray (GBR)
10,370 pts
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
7,445
3. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
5,445
4. Rafael Nadal (ESP)
5,375
5. Roger Federer (SUI)
5,035
6. Milos Raonic (CAN)
4,360
7. Dominic Thiem (AUT)
4,145
8. Marin Cilic (CRO)
3,765
9. Kei Nishikori (JPN)
3,560
10. Alexander Zverev (GER)
3,150 (+7)
11. David Goffin (BEL)
3,055 (-1)
12. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
2,900 (-1)
13. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
2,870 (-1)
14. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
2,780 (-1)
15. Jack Sock (USA)
2,415 (-1)
