Zizou Bergs produced the biggest victory of his career by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The upset also confirmed Alexander Zverev as the ATP year-end world No. 1 for the first time.
Belgian tennis player Zizou Bergs delivered a major upset at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Monday, defeating second seed Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6(4) to advance to the next round.
Ranked No. 39 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Bergs took advantage of the fast court conditions at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, breaking Alcaraz’s serve three times during the two-hour, three-minute match. The win marked the biggest achievement of his career based on ranking.
The result also carried significant implications for the men's tennis rankings. Alcaraz's defeat confirmed that Alexander Zverev will finish the 2026 season as the ATP year-end world No. 1, making him the first German player to achieve the distinction.
Zverev's rise to the top comes after a strong season, including victories at the French Open and US Open. His path was also affected by the absence of current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who has been sidelined by a knee injury and will miss the remainder of the season.
For Bergs, the victory represented more than a major tournament breakthrough. It also gave him greater belief that he can compete with and defeat the sport's leading players.
Reflecting on previous encounters against top-ranked opponents, including Novak Djokovic, Bergs admitted that he had sometimes shown them too much respect. His latest performance, however, has changed his outlook.
"To have this moment, for me it is a little bit of a relief," Bergs said. "I feel like now I really can win against these guys. Not just I can play against them, but I can win against them."
The Belgian has enjoyed a promising season, highlighted by winning his first ATP Tour title on grass at Eastbourne. His performance in Shanghai now provides another important milestone as he looks to establish himself among the tour's stronger competitors.
Bergs backed up his confidence with an effective serving display against Alcaraz, winning 79 per cent of points behind his first serve, or 37 of 47 points. His aggressive baseline play also kept the Spaniard from controlling rallies consistently.
The match was not without tension. Bergs had an opportunity to serve out the contest in the second set but was broken. He recovered quickly in the tie-break, winning the final three points from 4-4 to seal the upset.
Bergs will next face American Tommy Paul, who defeated defending champion Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-2. Vacherot's title defence ended with the loss, while Paul advanced with a convincing performance to set up another test for the Belgian.
After overcoming one of the biggest names in men's tennis, Bergs will now aim to carry his momentum into the next round and continue his run in Shanghai.
