Bergs Stuns Alcaraz In Shanghai Masters Upset
Belgian world number 39 Zizou Bergs produced a stunning performance to knock second seed Carlos Alcaraz out of the Shanghai Masters with a straight-sets victory in the third round on Monday.
Bergs defeated the Spanish star 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) to secure one of the tournament’s biggest upsets, ending Alcaraz’s hopes of progressing further in Shanghai.
The 27-year-old Belgian will face either American Tommy Paul or Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot in the next round.
Bergs admitted he was struggling to process the significance of the victory after overcoming one of the leading players in men’s tennis.
“It’s a little disbelief and not feeling too much,” he said after the match.
“You’re just really in the moment, being focused on the points you have to play. I’ll be very happy.”
Alcaraz began the contest with greater authority but struggled to maintain his consistency as Bergs grew into the match.
The Belgian secured the first break of serve to move 3-2 ahead in the opening set, although Alcaraz responded immediately to restore parity.
However, the Spaniard was unusually erratic, sending several shots into the net and allowing his opponent to remain in contention.
A double fault from Alcaraz in the 11th game handed Bergs a crucial break point, which he converted to take control of the set. The Belgian subsequently served out to claim it 7-5.
The second set proved equally challenging for the former world number one, who became increasingly frustrated as his errors mounted.
Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm during key passages, failing to win a point in both the fourth and eighth games as Bergs continued to apply pressure.
Despite his difficulties, the Spaniard forced a tie-break and attempted to extend the contest into a deciding set.
Bergs, however, maintained his composure in the tie-break, winning it 7-4 to seal the victory on his first match point just after two hours of play.
The result represents a significant milestone for Bergs, who demonstrated the consistency and composure required to overcome one of the favourites for the title.
For Alcaraz, the defeat will be a disappointing setback as he continues his return to the professional tour following an injury-enforced absence.
The Spaniard had been looking to build momentum in Shanghai, but Bergs’ disciplined performance ensured his campaign ended earlier than expected.
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