Shock Alcaraz loss is Zverev's gain

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock 7-5,7-6 (4) defeat to unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs in the round of 32 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Monday, a result that also confirmed Alexander Zverev as the ATP's year-end world No 1.

Fresh from defending his Japan Open title and building momentum after a wrist injury that sidelined him for nearly five months, Alcaraz never found his rhythm in a scrappy two-hour, two-minute contest.

The second-seeded Spaniard joined 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and US Open runner-up Ben Shelton among the high-profile early casualties at the 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 year's Japan Open, but showed no signs of intimidation as he outplayed the 23-year-old in key moments.

"I often have too much respect for these guys, which is part of my culture and I'm proud of that. But it gets a little bit in the way when you have to play them," Bergs said.

"The more experience you have practicing against them and playing matches, the more it becomes the new standard a little bit.

"To have this moment, for me, it is a little bit of a relief.

"I feel like, now, I really can win against these guys."

Next up for Bergs will be Tommy Paul after the American knocked out defending champion Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-2.

"I'm very happy how I handled the tiebreak," Bergs said.

"It's never easy to get broken when you are serving for the match, but to get back in the tiebreak and play those key moments, serve big — I'm very happy with that one, especially."

Alcaraz conceded that he was below his best.

"I didn't play the way that I wanted to play. A lot of mistakes. I didn't find a good position on the return," Alcaraz said.

"Obviously, credit to him. I would say he served really well.

"But, when I got into the rhythm, when I got into the point, I made a lot of mistakes. I wasn't feeling comfortable with my shots.

"So, I'm really disappointed with today's match because I didn't find the solution. I just made a lot of unforced errors."

'Dream come true'

The upset also guaranteed French Open and US Open champion Zverev, 29, the ATP's year-end world No 1 ranking.

"It's been a fantastic season for me winning in Paris and New York, and knowing that I will finish the year on top of the rankings is just a dream come true," Zverev said in a statement shared by the ATP Tour website.

"So much work and effort have been put into achieving this goal, especially after coming back from my ankle injury," Zverev added.

He suffered a career-threatening ankle injury in his French Open semifinal in 2022.

Zverev will be the first German man to finish a season as the world's top-ranked player, and the oldest to lift the trophy for the top spot, set to be presented in November.

Germany's Angelique Kerber and Steffi Graf have both been the year-end No 1 women's tennis players.

Zverev's achievement comes in a year when the previous two players to hold the top ranking, Italy's Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz, have skipped months of competition due to injury.

Sinner, the current No 1, has not competed since Wimbledon, where he beat Zverev in the final. He announced last week his season was over due to a knee injury.

Alcaraz, ranked third, was sidelined for months with a wrist injury from April until the US Open.

Zverev had been destined for the top from a young age, hailing from a tennis family where his mother and father both played the sport at a high level in the former Soviet Union.

But he plays in the shadow of domestic violence allegations made by two former partners, which he has strenuously denied.

The ATP Tour investigated one claim and found insufficient evidence to punish Zverev.

Another led to a 2023 penalty order and fine from a German court, which later dropped the case after a settlement was agreed in June, 2024 — hours before he was due to play in the French Open semifinals.