The first Belgian to conquer ATP grass
In short: Zizou Bergs didn't just climb the rankings; he broke a national ceiling. By capturing his first ATP Tour title at the 2026 Eastbourne Open, he became the first Belgian man to ever secure an ATP trophy on grass.
Born in Lommel in 1999 to parents Koen Bergs and Anne-Mie Driesen, Zizou Bergs began his journey at age three. His name is a tribute to French football icon Zinedine Zidane, who shared the same nickname. While he spent years grinding through the Challenger circuit—winning eight titles by late 2023—his rise to the elite level was marked by significant physical and competitive hurdles.
Bergs' trajectory included navigating a torn ligament in his left wrist and navigating the grueling path of qualifiers. He reached the top 50 in March 2025 after securing a milestone victory over world No. 8 Andrey Rublev at the Miami Open. His breakthrough continued into late 2025, where he reached his first Masters-level quarterfinal at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, eventually peaking at a career-high ranking of world No. 33 in August 2026.
His career has been defined by high-stakes moments and physical intensity. This was notably seen during the 2025 Davis Cup qualifiers against Chile, where an accidental collision with Cristian Garín led to a controversial finish and a request for a match reversal from the Chilean federation. Despite such complexities, Bergs remains a pivotal figure in Belgian tennis, currently holding the position of the nation's second-highest ranked man in singles.
Statistically, Bergs has proven his ability to compete with the elite, though he maintains a 2–12 record against top-10 opponents. His journey from a wildcard debut at the 2020 European Open to becoming a grass-court champion illustrates a steady evolution of skill and resilience over nearly a decade of professional play.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Zizou Bergs
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