Shanghai Masters Shocker: Alcaraz Stunned by Bergs in Third Round
Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock third-round exit at the Shanghai Masters, losing 7:5, 7:6(4) to Belgian Zizou Bergs. The defeat guarantees Alexander Zverev the year-end world No. 1 spot.
Major Upset at Shanghai Masters: Alcaraz Eliminated by Bergs
A massive upset shook the Shanghai Masters on Monday as world number three Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated in the third round following a 7:5, 7:6(4) defeat to Belgian Zizou Bergs, ranked 39th in the world.
Bergs, 27, secured the biggest victory of his career after two hours and three minutes. The result also decided the battle for the year-end No. 1 ranking: due to Alcaraz's loss, Alexander Zverev secured the top spot for the end of 2026 for the first time in his career.
Match Details and Turning Points
Bergs delivered an exceptional performance against the Spaniard, capitalizing on fast court conditions and breaking Alcaraz's serve three times. In the second set, he already served for the match at 5:4, but Alcaraz managed to break back and force a tiebreak. Even there, the Belgian kept his composure, taking a 3:1 lead, and despite a double fault that allowed Alcaraz to level at 4:4, he won the next three points to complete the sensation.
"This is something I found very hard to do," Bergs admitted when asked about the win against one of the tour's biggest stars. "Often I give these players too much respect. It's part of my culture and I'm proud of it, but sometimes it gets in the way when you need to play them... Now I feel I can actually beat these guys, not just compete with them."
Looking Ahead to the Round of 16
Bergs, who leveled his head-to-head record against Alcaraz to 1:1, struggled to process the scale of the achievement right after the match. In the round of 16, he will face the winner between last year's champion Valentin Vacherot and Tommy Paul, as he looks to match his run from last year and reach the quarterfinals.