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What Went Wrong in Carlos Alcaraz's Third Round Upset in Shanghai

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz suffered an unexpected third-round exit at the 2026 Shanghai Masters, falling in straight sets to unranked Belgian Zizou Bergs in a match that defied expectations.

The hard courts at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena exposed Alcaraz’s struggles with the surface’s pace, as Bergs capitalized on his powerful serve—winning 37 of 47 first-serve points—while breaking the Spaniard three times. Alcaraz’s frustration boiled over mid-match, with heated exchanges directed at his coaching team, including new leader Samuel López, over inconsistent ball bounces and Bergs’ lengthy bathroom break between sets.

Despite a brief comeback attempt in the second set, Alcaraz’s momentum stalled as Bergs sealed the tiebreak with three straight points after leading 3-1, advancing to the fourth round. The loss underscores lingering questions about Alcaraz’s recovery from a four-month wrist injury, though he had shown renewed form with a straight-sets title win at the Japan Open just weeks earlier.

Bergs, meanwhile, expressed confidence in his aggressive play and clutch serving, calling his performance ‘very happy’ in the aftermath.

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