ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 12, 2026

Zizou Bergs

Mized Zone

Z. BERGS/C. Alcaraz

7-5, 7-6

Q. How did the match play out tactically? Did it go the way you expected?

ZIZOU BERGS: Yeah, pretty much. I think that we prepared with what was kind of happening on court today. But obviously you need to execute the game plan. If you execute well you have a good chance. Then also looking a bit what he's going to do.

I think, yeah, you know, you need to take your opportunities that come. And if you do so, if you're efficient there, then you can win the match. So, game plan is one thing, but also execution and a little bit of luck when it has to fall is another thing that happened.

Q. In the quarterfinal here last year as well, is this becoming your favorite Masters 1000 tournament?

ZIZOU BERGS: Yeah, results, it's definitely my favorite Masters 1000. Also how I play here is pretty nice. The courts last year were way slower than this year, so it's not the same. The weather is much more nice. But, yeah, results are quite good here.

Q. How do you think the court impacted on the consistency of the ball, because we saw that Carlos complained a bit, and here the balls are the same as last week, so in your perception of where the performance of the ball in this match and the other match you played?

ZIZOU BERGS: Balls are completely the same obviously as the last tournament. It's not an issue with the balls. I do think sometimes there is a little wrong bounce on the court that happens time to time. It's definitely there. I noticed in the warm up that this can happen sometimes. Maybe one of the 10 or 20 shots you have it can be a bad bounce. But I think the court and the balls are in general very good.

Q. You wrote, What just happened, on the camera. What made you say that?

ZIZOU BERGS: Yeah, you know, Carlos is a hell of a name, and for me it's been a little struggle. You see these big players on TV, also in the past, you know, Djokovic, Rafa, you have the chance to play them, and then you can play them, but you also have to be ready to beat them. I've always been like, Ah, too much respect for them. So that's why, when it happened, it was more I was so much in the moment still that I hadn't too much energy to celebrate like crazy. I was just more like, Oh, what the hell's going on? So that's why I wrote down, like, what happens.

Q. When you get broken after 6-5, what went through your head because you still managed to play an incredible tiebreak even though just maybe felt like it was an opportunity gone, but at the same time you stayed very consistent and played a great tiebreak.

ZIZOU BERGS: Yeah, that's experience. That's not the first time that happens. So, yeah, just a matter of accepting it and go back into the tiebreak.

You know, you want to be in the position to play a tiebreak after winning the first set. So I was quite relaxed about it, and also, still very much in the moment. I knew things that could happen, especially against a guy like him.

Being in a situation where you play a big name, you're going to get nervous. So in that regard I think I was very happy with how I managed it.

Q. Can you talk about your work with Jan De Witt and how he impacted your game.

ZIZOU BERGS: I think the collab with Jan is a lot of fun. I think Jan is a very smart guy. His IQ and EQ really on the emotional side he understands the player, how he wants to work, how he thinks he's going to get the most out of himself.

He's traveling a lot with me which I'm very grateful for. He does a lot for his job. And, yeah, slowly it's paying out. He knows I'm like a slow riser, I always have to do a little bit step by step, and I think for him as well.

I'm very happy that this is another step in my career today to beat a very big name like Carlos. Yeah, our main thing is always to improve as a player, so that's not going to change.