Carlos Alcaraz was unexpectedly defeated by Zizou Bergs, ranked 39th in the world, in the third round of the Shanghai Masters on October 12, 2023. Alcaraz lost in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6(4), marking a significant upset in the tournament where he had aimed for a deeper run.
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Zverev's position as the year-end number one was confirmed by Alcaraz's loss and the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner for the remainder of the season due to injury. This makes Zverev the first German to end a calendar year ranked at the top of the ATP standings.
Despite Alcaraz entering the match with a seven-match winning streak, he struggled to find his rhythm, allowing Bergs to execute his game plan effectively. This defeat adds to Alcaraz's tally of five losses for the season, while Bergs celebrated the biggest victory of his career by progressing to the fourth round of the Masters event.