“Zizou Bergs shines in Monaco with an impressive victory.”

Zizou Bergs is making waves in Monte-Carlo and is not here to mess around! The young Belgian tennis player delivered one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by defeating Andrey Rublev, one of the stars of the circuit, with an impressive 6-4, 6-1, thus securing a place in the third round of the Masters 1000 in the Principality. In a match where the physical battle was as intense as the heat of the Monaco asphalt, Bergs displayed a resilience and precision that few expected.

From the start of the match, Rublev attempted to impose his game, but Bergs did not let himself be intimidated. With the score tied at 2-2, the Belgian launched into a devastating series, losing only two games until the end. Although he defended three break points in the second set, it was he who turned the match decisively in his favor, breaking the Russian’s serve to take a 5-1 lead, which he never relinquished.

“I’m feeling really good. It was a brutal match, and I’m very happy to be back at this level,” Bergs confessed after his victory in an interview with Tennis Channel. “I hadn’t had a win like this since January; we had some health issues and injuries along the way, but the team and I have worked hard to get here.” Clearly, this is a turning point in the Belgian’s career, who did not hide his satisfaction that the hard work is finally paying off.

Rublev had several opportunities to turn the match around, with eight break points throughout the duel, but Bergs was impeccable in shutting the door on his opponent. “Getting the first serve in makes a huge difference,” he explained. “Even when we face difficult moments, I tried to maintain my game and do what needed to be done at the right times.” The former Monte Carlo champion was unable to replicate past successes, overpowered by the tenacity and physical freshness of the Belgian.

Clay court tennis is known for its brutal physical demands. Bergs acknowledged this difficulty, recalling Rafael Nadal’s words about the importance of “loving the suffering” to succeed on this surface. “That’s exactly what I felt in the second set. The rallies were long, the opponent makes you move, and then it’s a mental battle to stay focused,” he explained.

Bergs’ story in Monte Carlo didn’t end there. The 26-year-old surprised many by teaming up with none other than Jannik Sinner, the world number two. “We were training in Indian Wells and he asked me if I wanted to play doubles in Monte Carlo. Of course, I said I would think about it,” Bergs revealed. The partnership stunned opponents and secured a first-round victory against Casper Ruud and Tomas Machac, two young ATP talents.

But it was the gesture after the victory that went viral: the handshake between Bergs and Sinner set social media ablaze. “It’s very Belgian! After the match, I like to have fun,” Bergs confessed with a smile. “He gave me a normal handshake, and I said ‘no, it can’t just be the hand!’ I asked if he knew the handshake between Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne. He said maybe, and I showed him. We did it together, and I’m sure they loved it in Belgium.”

Despite the success, the doubles adventure ends here for both as they are focused on the third round of singles. For Bergs, the bigger challenge is just around the corner: facing world number three, Alexander Zverev, in a battle that could catapult him into the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 for the second time in his career. If the Belgian repeats the level he has shown so far, he may be about to experience one of the most significant moments of his career. Stay tuned, because Zizou Bergs is making noise and shows no signs of slowing down!

This article first appeared on Apito Final.