Zizou Bergs Stuns Carlos Alcaraz at Shanghai Masters
- Zizou Bergs defeated second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6 (4) at the Shanghai Masters on October 12, 2026, delivering the biggest win of his tennis career against the tournament...
- The match marked only the second tour-level meeting between the two players and the first victory for Bergs over the Spanish star.
- I have too much respect for top players, which is part of my culture and I’m proud of that.
Zizou Bergs defeated second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6 (4) at the Shanghai Masters on October 12, 2026, delivering the biggest win of his tennis career against the tournament favorite.
Zizou Bergs Overcomes Cultural Respect to Defeat Carlos Alcaraz
The match marked only the second tour-level meeting between the two players and the first victory for Bergs over the Spanish star. The 39th-ranked Belgian hit 24 winners during the encounter, outperforming Alcaraz’s 16 winners. Bergs broke Alcaraz twice in the opening set, securing a 6-5 lead before serving it out when Alcaraz hit the net on the fourth set point. In the second set, Bergs broke again for a 6-5 advantage, but Alcaraz immediately broke back to force a tiebreaker. Bergs recovered from an early deficit in the tiebreaker to seal the match.
I have too much respect for top players, which is part of my culture and I’m proud of that. But it gets a little bit in the way when you have to play them. 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. Not just I can play against them, but I can win against them.
Zizou Bergs
It’s never easy to get broken when you are serving for the match, but to get back in the tiebreaker and play those key moments, serve big, I’m very happy with that one especially,
Bergs said.
Tour Standings and Alexander Zverev Year-End Ranking Implications
The early exit for Alcaraz carries immediate consequences for the ATP rankings. According to sportsnet.ca, the defeat ensures that Alexander Zverev will finish the year holding the No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz arrived in Shanghai fresh off his championship run at the Japan Open, where he defeated Jiri Lehecka in the final on October 6, 2026, but he could not sustain that momentum against Bergs’ baseline pressure and serving performance.
Simultaneous Results Across the Shanghai Masters Draw
Other matches on the tournament schedule saw several seeded players advance or exit the ATP 1000 event. Fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev advanced past Dalibor Svrcina 6-2, 6-3, marking his second victory following a disqualification at the China Open for hitting a spectator in the eye with a ball. Medvedev closed out the match when Svrcina sent a backhand volley wide.
Fourth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime eliminated Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas dropped the opening set before rallying to defeat 11th-seeded Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Tommy Paul Matchup Awaits in the Fourth Round
Bergs advances to the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters, where he is scheduled to face Tommy Paul. The American earned his spot in the next round by defeating defending champion Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-2, as reported by nbcsports.com and apnews.com. It remains to be seen whether Bergs can maintain his aggressive form against Paul following his career-defining upset.