Bergs stuns Alcaraz in Shanghai as Zverev claims year’s top tennis ranking

Fresh from defending his Japan Open title after returning from injury, Alcaraz never found his rhythm in a scrappy contest.Published On 12 Oct 202612 Oct 2026Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz has suffered a shock 7-5 7-6(4) defeat by unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs in the Shanghai Masters round of 32, a result ⁠that also confirmed Alexander Zverev as the ATP’s year-end world number one tennis player.Fresh from defending his Japan Open title and building momentum after a lengthy wrist injury layoff, Alcaraz never found his rhythm in a scrappy two-hour, two-minute contest on Monday.The second-seeded Spaniard, who ⁠was sidelined for nearly five months before returning at the US Open in late August and reaching the quarterfinals, joined 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and US Open runner-up Ben Shelton among the high-profile casualties at the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Masters 1000 event.Bergs produced a composed all-court performance, thriving in the quick conditions as the 27-year-old broke Alcaraz’s serve three times to clinch the ‌biggest victory of his career.Bergs had lost their only previous meeting, falling to Alcaraz in the last 16 of last yea...