Carlos Alcaraz was defeated in straight sets by Zizou Bergs in the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday, marking a surprising setback for the former world number one as he continues his comeback following a lengthy injury layoff. The 39th-ranked Belgian secured a 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) victory over the second-seeded Spanish player in a match that lasted just over two hours. Bergs will face either Tommy Paul or Valentin Vacherot in the next round.
Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, started the match strongly but lost his serve early in the first set, allowing Bergs to gain a critical advantage. Although the Spaniard managed to break back immediately, inconsistent play contributed to further lost opportunities. Alcaraz’s frustrations became evident in the second set, as unforced errors and a double fault gave Bergs additional openings. Despite pushing the set to a tiebreak, Alcaraz was unable to extend the match to a third set, with Bergs closing out on his first match point.
The result also confirmed that Alexander Zverev will finish the season as the ATP year-end world number one, becoming the first German player to claim this distinction. Zverev, 29, benefits from the absence of Italian player Jannik Sinner, who has been sidelined since his Wimbledon victory over Zverev in July due to a knee injury. Sinner has missed significant parts of the North American hard-court season, including the US Open and the Asian swing, and will sit out the European indoor season and the ATP Finals in Turin, where Zverev has been the two-time defending champion.
Elsewhere in Shanghai, Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the fourth round, where he will meet Daniil Medvedev. The match included a brief delay when a tennis ball fell from Fritz’s pocket during a critical point, requiring a replay of the match point. Tsitsipas acknowledged his own struggles during the match but praised his ability to improve his play in the latter stages.
Medvedev secured his spot in the last 16 with a straight-sets win against qualifier Dalibor Svrcina, 6-2, 6-3. Other players advancing to the last 16 include Felix Auger-Aliassime, Casper Ruud, and Rafael Nadal.