Bergs Stuns Alcaraz in Shanghai

Zizou Bergs (Newscentraltv) Zizou Bergs (Newscentraltv)
Belgium's Zizou Bergs celebrates after winning against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during their men's singles match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 12, 2026. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP)

Zizou Bergs produced the biggest upset of the Shanghai Masters so far on Monday, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets to end the Spaniard’s promising return to the professional tennis tour.

The 27-year-old Belgian, ranked 39th in the world, beat second-seeded Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) in the third round, securing one of the most significant victories of his career. Bergs will face either Tommy Paul or Valentin Vacherot in the next round.

Alcaraz had recently returned to competitive action after spending several months sidelined by injury. The 23-year-old began the match with greater control but struggled to maintain his accuracy as Bergs grew into the contest.

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Bergs claimed the first break of serve to lead 3-2 in the opening set, although Alcaraz immediately responded by breaking back. The Spaniard then committed a series of uncharacteristic errors, repeatedly finding the net and struggling to establish his usual rhythm.

A double fault from Alcaraz gave Bergs a crucial break point in the 11th game, and the Belgian closed out the first set after an Alcaraz volley fell short.

Carlos Alcaraz (Newscentraltv)
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his men’s singles match against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 12, 2026. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP)

The second set brought further frustration for Alcaraz, who was visibly unhappy with his performance and repeatedly communicated with his coaching team after several misplaced shots. Despite forcing a tie-break, he couldn’t take the match into a deciding set.

Bergs converted his first match point shortly after the two-hour mark to complete the 7-5, 7-6 victory. Speaking after the match, Bergs admitted he was still processing the result.

“It’s a little disbelief and not feeling too much,” he said, explaining that his focus had remained firmly on playing each point.

Elsewhere at the Shanghai Masters, Stefanos Tsitsipas recovered from a set down to defeat Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 and book a fourth-round meeting with Daniil Medvedev.

Medvedev advanced comfortably with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over qualifier Dalibor Svrcina.

Tsitsipas’ match against Fritz included an unusual delay when a tennis ball fell from the American’s pocket for a second time, forcing one match point to be replayed. The Greek eventually sealed victory on his fifth match point.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, Casper Ruud and Rafael Jodar also progressed to the Shanghai Masters last 16.

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  • Tope Oke

    Temitope is a storyteller driven by a passion for the intricate world of geopolitics, the raw beauty of wildlife, and the dynamic spirit of sports. As both a writer and editor, he excels at crafting insightful and impactful narratives that not only inform but also inspire and advocate for positive change. Through his work, he aims to shed light on complex issues, celebrate diverse perspectives, and encourage readers to engage with the world around them in a more meaningful way.

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