Zizou Bergs stuns Alcaraz in Shanghai as Zverev claims year-end top ranking

What the report says

Carlos Alcaraz has been knocked out of the Shanghai Masters in the round of 32 after a 7-5, 7-6(4) loss to Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. The upset came on Monday in Shanghai and ended the run of the second-seeded Spaniard, who had recently returned from a lengthy wrist injury absence and had just defended his Japan Open title. Al Jazeera reported that Alcaraz never settled into the match, while Bergs played confidently in the quick conditions and broke serve three times to secure the biggest win of his career.

The result also had a ranking impact. It confirmed that Alexander Zverev would finish the year as the ATP world number one, making the German the first from his country and the oldest first-time player to reach that position, as reported by Al Jazeera. Zverev, who has already won major titles in Paris and New York this season, said the achievement reflected a long-term effort and was a dream come true.

Al Jazeera’s report noted that other high-profile players, including Novak Djokovic and Ben Shelton, have also exited the event. More broadly, the article places Alcaraz’s defeat in the context of a season shaped by injuries and scheduling changes, while also highlighting how absences by Jannik Sinner opened the path for Zverev’s year-end milestone.