Bergs Zaps Zheng In Shanghai For First ATP Masters 1000 Victory

Zizou Bergs
Zizou Bergs (photo: ATP Tour video)

SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON, October 3, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

Zizou Bergs has learned from experience that it doesn’t matter if he’s playing in a Masters 1000 match or competing in an ATP 250, it’s doing the right things day-in, day-out. He knows that every match counts — win or lose — even if it means spoiling the homecoming of his opponent 8,919 kilometers away from his own home in Neerpelt, Belgium.

On Thursday evening in the opening round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters at Qi Zhong Tennis Center, the 25-year-old Belgian earned his first ATP Masters 1000 victory in his Shanghai debut. The 73rd-ranked Bergs defeated popular Chinese No. 1 Zhang Zhizhen, 6-4, 6-3, in one hour and 19 minutes on Stadium Court for his 12th win of the season in 26 tour-level matches.

Bergs broke the 41st-ranked Zhang in the 10th game of the first set and converted three of five break-point chances overall en route to advancing to the second round against No. 9 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. He finished with eight aces, hit 27 winners to 13 unforced errors and outpointed his opponent 63-52.

Afterward, Bergs was asked during a court side interview what it meant to earn his first win at the Masters 1000 level in his fourth attempt, after competing last year in Miami and earlier this season in Madrid and Rome. “I had a few matches already, luckily, on this level, and I got close a few times,” he said. “But besides playing a 1000, I think it’s a little bit irrelevant, it’s more how you perform every match you’re playing this year on the level. You know, if you play 500 or a 1000, I feel like the level is the same — 250s as well — everything is close. So, it’s a matter of doing the right things day-in, day-out.

“This one was very nice, you know, because you can play on center court in a beautiful arena. Also, Shanghai, the city, how they organize the tournament is amazing. So that part, it’s a special night. Also, playing the Chinese star, you can really tell, many people coming out, so it’s very nice.”

Last year, Zhang became the first Chinese man to reach the fourth round at Shanghai before losing to eventual champion Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. The 27-year-old Shanghai native looked to join Shang Juncheng and Wu Yibing, who both won their first-round matches on Wednesday, in the second round. It would have been the first time three Chinese men reached the Shanghai second round in tournament history. However, it wasn’t meant to be for Zhang.

“Tonight, he played really well. The result was bad, but I think I did everything,” Zhang said in his post-match news conference. “I tried many things, but he was really acting very well. Even on the break point he had a really good serve a couple points, and the whole match he was really aggressive and, yeah, he was playing really well tonight. So, I mean, he deserve to win tonight.”

When Bergs leaned in to sign the camera lens after beating Zhang, he wrote “Sorry Shanghai.” He explained why: “They’re very respectful. Obviously, they supporting Zhizhen, which is completely normal, and it’s very fun, even for the opponent to play at. That part, I know he’s from Shanghai, I know everybody wants him to win. So, that part it was a little sorry to the crowd and to the tournament.”

Berrettini wins in his return to Shanghai

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini returned to Shanghai on Thursday afternoon for the first time since reaching the 2019 semifinals. The 44th-ranked Roman, who withdrew in the second round against Frenchman Arthur Fils at Tokyo with an abdominal injury last week, came in 15-0 versus lower-ranked opponents this season. He looked to extend his perfect record in his first meeting against No. 71 Christopher O’Connell of Australia.

As it happened, Berrettini garnered his first ATP Masters 1000 win of the season, defeating O’Connell, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (6), to advance to the second round against No. 12 seed Holger Rune of Denmark. During his two-hour, 13-minute match against O’Connell, Berrettini hit 33 winners, including 11 aces, and outpointed his opponent 86-83.

“When you’re not able to do your job and what you like to do, then it’s always a struggle, but, so I’m really appreciating every moment that I have to spend on court and to perform and give my best,” Berrettini said in a post-match interview.

“I know it’s a process. I know, you know, like I did a great job this year to build up again my ranking, and I’m feeling good, so hopefully a great end of the season as well.”

Berrettini, who will take a 1-2 lifetime record into his match against Rune, said he enjoys playing in Shanghai. “I like the conditions here. I know it’s been five years and, you know, different players, different situations,” he said. “Holger played well last week, so it’s always a tough match against him. We played in Cincinnati a few months ago. I expect a tough one, but at the same time I have the confidence to step up on court and win the match.”

Around the Rolex Shanghai Masters

No. 55 Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia defeated Australia’s Rinky Hijikata, 6-2, 6-2, Thursday afternoon to complete a box set of winning at least one match at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. It was Kecmanovic’s first hard-court win in more than a year, since August 2023 at Toronto.

Kecmanovic, 25, did not face a break point during his 79-minute match against Hijikata, which leveled their head-to-head series at 1-all. The Serbian took advantage of five double faults by the No. 78 Hijikata — including on match point — and broke the Aussie’s serve six times in 10 opportunities.

Next, Kecmanovic will face another Australian, 20th seed Alexei Popyrin, in the second round.

Also, 19-year-old Chinese wild card Yi Zhou, ranked 440th, advanced over Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan by retirement after leading 4-2 to set up a second-round match against No. 13 seed Frances Tiafoe of the United States. The 60th-ranked Nishioka retired with a back injury.

Other first-round winners include: David Goffin of Belgium, Jaume Munar of Spain, Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, Marcos Giron of the United States, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan and Roman Safiullin of Russia. Plus, a trio of qualifiers advanced: Yosuke Watanuki of Japan, Mattia Bellucci of Italy and Terence Atmane of France.

Thursday’s Rolex Shanghai Masters results

Friday’s Rolex Shanghai Masters order of play

By the numbers

Former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland made his 11th appearance at the Rolex Shanghai Masters a memorable one Thursday evening. Currently ranked No. 236, Wawrinka struck 13 aces, hit 34 winners overall and turned back the clock as he defeated No. 50 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (6), in an hour and 48 minutes during a featured Stadium Court match. Next, he will face 28th seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy for the first time.

Wawrinka is tied with Marin Cilic, Fabio Fognini, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon for most appearances in event history, only missing two editions (2017 and 2019).

With his triumph, the 39-year-old Wawrinka became the third-oldest player to win a match at an ATP Masters 1000 event in series history (since 1990) behind Ivo Karlovic at Indian Wells in 2019 and Jimmy Connors at Miami in 1992. His victory over Mpetshi Perricard was his first Top 50 win since defeating then-No. 17 Cameron Norrie in Davis Cup play in September 2023. It was also his first win in Shanghai since 2016.

“It’s been a really tough year so far, but I’m not getting younger so I’m trying to keep pushing myself,” Wawrinka said during his on-court interview. “I’m happy with the match tonight. I think it was a really good level. I was playing really good, one of the best matches of the year for me.

“He’s such an aggressive player. It was great to be here, so much support here, so I’m enjoying my time in China.”

“Quotable …”

“We have a really good relationship off the court. … I think we both respect each other a lot, as a player, as a person, but once we are on tour traveling, you know, during tournaments when we are on site, we are with our team on our own, so we don’t speak too much.

“When we can, we talk a little bit besides tennis, about life a little bit, but not too much. We have a good relationship, but we are not close friends, you know, but I think the respect that we have, you know, put us in a position that we have a really good relationship.”

— World No. 3 and third seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, during his pre-tournament news conference on Thursday, describing his friendship with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, whom he defeated to win the Beijing Open title on Wednesday.

 

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