Zizou Bergs secured the biggest victory of his career on October 12, 2026, defeating Carlos Alcaraz 7-5, 7-6 in the third round of the Shanghai Masters, Puntodebreak reported. The straight-sets defeat for the Spanish player also secured Alexander Zverev the status of finishing the year as the world number one.
The result in Shanghai was not merely the product of an off-day for Alcaraz. Months of technical evolution, a shift in tactical mindset against elite opponents, and the guidance of German coach Jan de Witt underpinned the Belgian’s breakthrough performance on the fast hard courts.
Mental Shift Against Elite Opponents
De Witt, a coach with decades of experience on the professional circuit, joined Bergs’ team in mid-2025. The partnership immediately confronted high-level challenges, including matches against Alcaraz in Tokyo, Novak Djokovic in Shanghai, and Jannik Sinner in Paris late that season. Those initial losses exposed a barrier that went beyond tactical execution.
“The greatest lesson for Zizou was that those players are incredibly good, the best in the world, but they are not untouchable,” De Witt told the ATP Tour website. The coach added a straightforward directive that reshaped their preparation: “The next time, the simple goal will be to defeat them.”
Bergs entered the tournament ranked number 39 in the world. Rather than waiting for unforced errors from Alcaraz, Bergs dictated the rallies, utilized the quick court conditions, and turned his serve into a primary weapon. He won 79 percent of his first-serve points, struck nine aces, and broke serve three times. Even after failing to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set, Bergs maintained his composure to close out the tiebreak.
Data and Technology in the De Witt Method
Beyond mindset, the coaching approach integrates modern statistical analysis. De Witt acknowledges that while he is not naturally drawn to raw data, he has learned to harness technological tools to identify tangible areas for improvement.
“My job as a coach is to decide which parts of that information can actually help my player improve and win more matches,” De Witt said. The objective remains practical application rather than the accumulation of metrics.
This structural support coincides with Bergs’ continued progress on the ATP Tour, which included claiming his first career ATP singles title in Eastbourne in June 2026. Reflecting on his victory over Alcaraz, Bergs admitted that he had previously approached top-tier players with excessive deference.
“Now I feel like I can actually beat these guys, not just compete against them,” Bergs said.
Next Match at the Shanghai Masters
With the third-round upset confirmed, Bergs advances to the next stage of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai, continuing his campaign at the venue.
