Bergs challenges Alcaraz: "The balls were the same as in the previous tournament"

Zizou Bergs has been the big surprise of the day and, probably, of the entire ATP Shanghai 2026, after achieving a historic victory against Carlos Alcaraz. The Belgian tennis player, who had never defeated a top 3 player in the world throughout his career, delivered the match of his life to eliminate the Spaniard, one of the top favorites for the title. A practically perfect performance in which Bergs left Alcaraz outplayed today, showing that when he has clear ideas and can execute his game plan, he can compete against the best in the world.

The truth is that Shanghai is starting to become a very special venue for the Belgian, who already reached the quarter-finals in last year's edition. His excellent adaptation to the tournament conditions was evident again against an Alcaraz who never seemed comfortable on the court. Bergs was able to impose his tennis, take advantage of opportunities, and make the Spaniard look much more vulnerable than usual. The match of Alcaraz today was not good. After such a triumph, the Belgian appeared before the media to discuss the keys to his victory, Alcaraz's complaints about the playing conditions, and what it means for him to have defeated one of the best tennis players on the planet.

Zizou Bergs explains the keys to his victory over Carlos Alcaraz

How important was the game plan in defeating Carlos Alcaraz?

"I think we prepared very well for the match considering the conditions on the court today. But, of course, having a plan is one thing, and executing it is quite another. If you can execute it well, you have a lot of possibilities. You also have to pay attention to what your opponent is doing and adapt. Against players like that, it is essential to seize the opportunities that arise. If you are effective in those moments, you can win. In the end, not everything depends on tactics; execution matters a lot, and having that little bit of luck when you need it. All of those circumstances came together today."

Last year you reached the quarter-finals in Shanghai. Is it becoming your favorite Masters 1000?

"If we look at the results, then yes, definitely. Moreover, I really like how I am playing here. It is true that the conditions are different from last year because the courts were quite slower then compared to now. We are also having much nicer weather. But overall, I am achieving very good results in this tournament."

Carlos Alcaraz has complained several times about the bounce of the ball. Have you noticed any problems with the court conditions?

"The balls are exactly the same as those we used in the previous tournament, so I don’t think the problem comes from there. It is true that, now and then, there was an odd bounce on the court. That is something I noticed even during the warm-up. You might encounter a bad bounce every ten or twenty shots. That exists, and I won't deny it, but I think that, in general, both the courts and the balls are very good."

Y Bergs RESPONDE a Alcaraz tras su queja sobre las pelotas hoy en Shanghai. 🗣️ "Las pelotas son exactamente las mismas que utilizamos en el torneo anterior, así que no creo que el problema sea ese" 🗣️ "Sí es cierto que, de vez en cuando, había algún bote extraño en la pista. Es algo que he notado incluso durante el calentamiento. Quizá te encuentras con un bote malo cada diez o veinte golpes. Eso existe y no voy a negarlo, pero creo que, en general, tanto las pistas como las pelotas están muy bien" 🎙️ Prensa de Shanghai

— José Morón (@jmgmoron) October 12, 2026

After winning, you wrote on the camera 'What just happened?'. Why did you choose that phrase?

"Carlos is one of the big names in tennis, and for me, winning against players of this level has always been challenging. When you’re young, you see players like Djokovic or Nadal on TV, and when you finally have the opportunity to face them, it’s not enough to just play the match; you also have to be mentally prepared to beat them. I think I used to respect them too much. That’s why, when I finished the match, I was still so caught up in what had just happened that I didn’t even feel like celebrating it grandly. I was rather thinking: 'What the hell just happened here?'. Hence, I wrote that phrase on the camera."

You had the chance to close out the match with your serve, but Alcaraz broke back. How did you manage to stay calm and then play such a good tiebreak?

"That comes from experience. It’s not the first time something like this has happened to me, so you just have to accept it and focus on the next game. In the end, I was in a position where I could play a tiebreak after having won the first set, so I had no reason to despair. I was quite calm and remained very focused on the present. I knew that against a player like Carlos, these things can happen. When you play against someone of his caliber, it's normal for nerves to come up, but I’m very satisfied with how I managed them."

How important is Jan de Witt in your development as a tennis player, and how do you value your work together?

"I am really enjoying our collaboration. Jan is a very intelligent person, both technically and emotionally. He understands the player very well, how he likes to work, and what he needs to bring out his best version. Additionally, he travels a lot with me, and I’m very grateful for everything he does. Little by little, we are starting to reap the fruits of that work. He knows perfectly well that I’m a player who needs time to progress, that I make small steps instead of big leaps all at once. Today’s victory against such an important player like Carlos is another step forward in my career. I’m very happy, but our priority will remain the same: continue improving as a tennis player. That is not going to change."

Bergs, a real threat in the Shanghai draw

After eliminating Carlos Alcaraz, Zizou Bergs becomes one of the names to watch very closely in this ATP Shanghai 2026. The Belgian has not only demonstrated that he has enough tennis to surprise anyone, but he is also mentally prepared to overcome high-pressure situations. Now he will have the opportunity to take advantage of the gap left by the Spaniard in the draw, in a section where Alcaraz was one of the main candidates to advance to the later rounds. If he manages to maintain the level displayed in this historic victory, Bergs could once again deliver a great performance in a Masters 1000, just as he did last year by reaching the quarter-finals.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Bergs contesta a Alcaraz: "Las pelotas eran las mismas que en el torneo anterior"