Unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs produced the shock of the Shanghai Masters on Monday, defeating seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6(4) in the round of 32 — a result that confirmed Alexander Zverev as the ATP's year-end world number one.
The second-seeded Spaniard never found his rhythm in a scrappy two-hour, two-minute contest. Bergs broke Alcaraz's serve three times and held his nerve in the second-set tiebreak to clinch the biggest victory of his career.
Bergs' career-best win
Bergs had lost the pair's only previous meeting, falling to Alcaraz in the last 16 of last year's Japan Open. This time, the 27-year-old played with composure in the quick conditions, outplaying the 23-year-old Spaniard at the decisive moments.
"This is something that has been very tough for me," Bergs said afterwards. "I often have too much respect for these guys... To have this moment, for me it is a little bit of a relief. I feel like now I really can win against these guys."
Alcaraz, who had defended his Japan Open title after returning from a lengthy wrist injury that sidelined him for nearly five months, conceded he was below his best. The Spaniard had been building momentum since his late-August comeback at the US Open, where he reached the quarterfinals.
Zverev crowned year-end No. 1
Bergs' upset also settled the race for the year-end top ranking: Alexander Zverev is now confirmed as the ATP's year-end world number one, regardless of his own remaining results.
Alcaraz was not the only high-profile casualty in Shanghai. Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and US Open runner-up Ben Shelton were also beaten, with Hubert Hurkacz stunning Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 to reach the third round and end an eight-match losing streak against the Serbian.
Sources: Al Jazeera: Bergs stuns Alcaraz in Shanghai as Zverev claims year's top tennis ranking
The second-seeded Spaniard never found his rhythm in a scrappy two-hour, two-minute contest. Bergs broke Alcaraz's serve three times and held his nerve in the second-set tiebreak to clinch the biggest victory of his career.
Bergs' career-best win
Bergs had lost the pair's only previous meeting, falling to Alcaraz in the last 16 of last year's Japan Open. This time, the 27-year-old played with composure in the quick conditions, outplaying the 23-year-old Spaniard at the decisive moments.
"This is something that has been very tough for me," Bergs said afterwards. "I often have too much respect for these guys... To have this moment, for me it is a little bit of a relief. I feel like now I really can win against these guys."
Alcaraz, who had defended his Japan Open title after returning from a lengthy wrist injury that sidelined him for nearly five months, conceded he was below his best. The Spaniard had been building momentum since his late-August comeback at the US Open, where he reached the quarterfinals.
Zverev crowned year-end No. 1
Bergs' upset also settled the race for the year-end top ranking: Alexander Zverev is now confirmed as the ATP's year-end world number one, regardless of his own remaining results.
Alcaraz was not the only high-profile casualty in Shanghai. Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and US Open runner-up Ben Shelton were also beaten, with Hubert Hurkacz stunning Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 to reach the third round and end an eight-match losing streak against the Serbian.
Sources: Al Jazeera: Bergs stuns Alcaraz in Shanghai as Zverev claims year's top tennis ranking
