Five Things To Know About Zizou Bergs

  • Posted: Oct 22, 2020

World No. 528 Zizou Bergs stunned 2017 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters finalist Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Tuesday at the European Open, upsetting the former World No. 17 7-5, 7-5 in his first tour-level match.

“I’m definitely a guy who loves emotions. I have amazing friends, amazing family and I’m playing at home in Belgium, in Antwerp,” Bergs said. “I just love the emotions. I love screaming it out. I love to see [the fans’] reactions. It’s just really why I want to play tennis, because I like the atmosphere… those are things that I live for. It’s the way I want to play, it’s the way I want to enjoy the games and it’s my nature, so I just love the atmosphere.”

Bergs gained confidence in training with the likes of Frances Tiafoe ahead of the tournament. Now he will continue his dream run on Thursday against third seed Karen Khachanov.

Before the match, ATPTour.com looks at five things to know about the 21-year-old Belgian.

1) How Zizou Started Tennis
The Belgian began playing tennis at age three with his father Koen Bergs and mother Anne-Mie Driesen. He started at a local tennis club 200 metres from his home and as he grew older, his father was the parent most involved with his tennis development.

Bergs went to the LTA Academy in Belgium when he was eight. At 15, he integrated into the Flemish Federation’s training centre. He climbed as high as World No. 12 as a junior. The three coaches who have influenced his career the most are Tom Devries, Bertrand Tinck and Johan Van Herck.

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2) Pushed Felix To The Brink Two Years Ago
While this is Bergs’ first tour-level main draw, he previously attempted to qualify in Antwerp three times. On two of those occasions, he pushed his opponent to a final-set tie-break. Two years ago, the home favourite held two match points against Felix Auger-Aliassime before losing. The 21-year-old used those experiences to his advantage against Ramos-Vinolas.

“Today I proved that I took the experience from the past times and I just kept fighting,” Bergs said. “Eventually things turned my way. It was very nice.”

3) Secret Talent
Like some other players on the ATP Tour, Bergs is a gifted musician. He calls music his secret talent and he enjoys playing the guitar and piano. Other pianists on the ATP Tour include Auger-Aliassime, Ugo Humbert and Corentin Moutet.

4) Basketball & Roddick
Outside of tennis, Bergs’ dream job is becoming a basketball player. His favourite basketball team is the Philadelphia 76ers.

It’s fitting, as Bergs’ idol growing up was former World No. 1 Andy Roddick, who played high school basketball with fellow American star Mardy Fish. Berg also plays aggressively like Roddick, showing no fear of the big stage in Antwerp and enjoying the pressure.

5) Belgian Fries, School & Languages
Who doesn’t like Belgian food? Bergs’ favourite food is Belgian fries.

The right-hander is a management science student at Open University in Belgium. His favourite school subject is math. Bergs speaks three languages: Dutch, French and English.

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