Zizou Bergs on Monday created one of the biggest upsets in tennis history at the Shanghai Masters, advancing to the fourth round of the tournament by defeating Carlos Alcaraz, the world number two, in straight sets.
Upset at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena
Bergs, ranked 39th in the ATP rankings, overcame Alcaraz with a score of 7-5 and 7-6 (4) at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena. The Belgian tennis player delivered an outstanding performance and took advantage of the fast court conditions, managing to break Alcaraz's serve three times and achieving the biggest victory of his career in ATP competitions.
Experience and Confidence on the Court
Bergs commented on this victory: "This has been very difficult for me. I often hold a lot of respect for these players, which is part of my culture and I take pride in it. But this respect sometimes hinders me when I have to play against them. I had an incredible moment against Novak Djokovic last year where I was definitely playing his name, not him."
He added: "The more experience you gain from practicing and playing against these players, the more it becomes a new standard. Having this moment is a bit of relief for me. I feel like I can really win against these players now. Not only can I play against them, but I can beat them."
With this two-hour and three-minute victory, Bergs also ensured that Alexander Zverev will be named the ATP year-end number one in 2026. Zverev, who currently holds the second position, will be the first German player to be recognized as the year-end number one.
Bergs, who reached the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters 1000 last year, is looking to replicate this journey this year and will face Tommy Paul in the fourth round.
