Zizou Bergs (25) floats higher and longer than ever. The new standard bearer of Belgian tennis will provide the show in Antwerp, but above all he wants to continue climbing the world rankings. And after a sweat problem has been resolved, no one dares to say where their ceiling is.
A lot has changed in four years, but some things have remained the same.
In 2020, Zizou Bergs – then number 528 in the world – turned the Antwerp tournament upside down by stunting against Albert Ramos and thus winning his first ATP match ever.
In the meantime, our compatriot already has many prestigious victories to his name and he actually boasts position 69, a ‘career high’, in the ranking.
Yet Bergs’ victories – even if they are now slightly less surprising – are still fiercely celebrated in Antwerp. His spectacular tennis in combination with a large group of loyal fans rocked the Lotto Arena in recent days.
What will it be like if he can qualify for the semi-finals of an ATP tournament for the first time?
Showman with salt problem
In any case, the pressure and high tension in the room will have little influence on Bergs’ game. On the contrary, even. The Limburger is known as a showman who can rise above himself with an enthusiastic audience behind him.
His father Koen knows this better than anyone.
“When Zizou was little, he actually liked team sports more than tennis,” he recalls.
“Zizou played handball, among other things. During the final of a Flemish Championship – Zizou must have been about 9 years old at the time – the score was tied with a few seconds left on the clock. The entire team collapsed from the stress, but Zizou asked the goalkeeper for the ball, passed everyone and scored. That pulling and pushing under pressure still characterizes him.”
Some said we should accept the problems, but that is not in our genes.
Koen Berg’s
However, a recurring problem prevented Bergs from taking the next step in recent years. Cramps invariably cropped up during long and intensive matches. Also during this year’s Australian Open.
“In the qualifications, Zizou was 4-1 and 40-0 ahead when he suddenly completely collapsed and lost. A mental low point. As a lucky loser, Zizou still made it to the main draw, but against Tsitsipas he suffered again at the end of the first set .”
Team-Bergs has had enough of so many bitter defeats due to the cramp problem and decides to go to the Bakala Academy in Leuven for extensive research.
Father Koen: “However, some told us that we had to accept the problem, but that is not in our genes.”
That long-awaited solution has created a big click in Zizou’s head.
Koen Berg’s
Good thing, too.
During the tests it turns out that Bergs is a “salt sweater” and sweats many more liters than first thought.
“Zizou took extra sodium during his matches to prevent cramps, but little salt. We then drew up a complete drinking plan. The problem has since been resolved.”
“That long-awaited solution has created a big click in Zizou’s head. He finally knows that everything is fine physically. He no longer has to worry about those cramps, but can fully focus on winning and accelerating.”
Standard bearer Belgian tennis
Belgian sports fans will applaud it.
Because in recent years, Belgian men’s tennis has been in an impasse that cannot be ignored. When would a worthy successor to David Goffin, who continued to decline, emerge? With Bergs, who himself dreams out loud of the top 10, someone now seems able to take over the scepter definitively.
“Zizou embraces his role as standard bearer,” says father Koen.
“He really wants to take Belgian tennis to a higher level and see as many others as possible in the top 100. In Goffin’s absence, he already took on a real leadership role for the even younger players during the Davis Cup. In training, Zizou has always has an eye for children, because as a little boy he barely got a ‘hello’ from the professionals.”
If he doesn’t perform for 4 weeks, he could easily drop out of the top 100.
Koen Berg’s
Make no mistake: despite his strong climb up the ATP rankings, Bergs is by no means able to freewheel on the circuit.
Will he die in Antwerp tonight? Then the qualifications in Vienna await soon. Bergs is often not yet certain of a guaranteed spot on the main table.
“If he doesn’t perform for 4 weeks, he could easily drop out of the top 100,” Bergs senior warns.
“Due to the current system (only points from the past 12 months count, ed.) you are never comfortable. So it is often a matter of planning and choosing tournaments well. Fortunately, Zizou has a good team (see inset below, ed. .) to fall back on. Because traveling around the world all year round and having to perform at the same time is sometimes tough.”
Zizou Bergs’ permanent team
Ruben Bemelmans – coach
Gert-Jan De Muynck – coach and mental coach
Kurt Jansen – performance coach
Thomas Deschamps – performance coach
Hans Van Baarle – physio
Nicolas Dams – fysio
Juan Acuna – agent
Jirth Maesen (girlfriend) – social media
Koen Bergs (father) – admin and finance
That is why Bergs is enjoying his adventure in Antwerp so much. And this time without the fear that cramps will ruin his ambitions.
Where does this fairy tale end? No one dares to predict it.
“Secretly, Zizou dreams of winning his first ATP title in his own country,” father Koen reveals. “He is on a mission and believes very strongly in it. It is impossible to give guarantees that it will work. But our motto is ‘Don’t dream it, do it!’.”
The opposition has been warned.
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