Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz suffered a ​shock 7-5 7-6(4) defeat by unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs in the Shanghai Masters round of 32 on ‌Monday, a result that also confirmed Alexander Zverev as the ATP’s year-end world number one.

Fresh from defending his Japan Open title and building momentum after a lengthy wrist injury layoff, Alcaraz never found his rhythm in a scrappy two-hour, two-minute contest.

The second-seeded Spaniard, who was sidelined for nearly ​five months before returning at the US Open in late August and reaching the quarter-finals, joined 24-times Grand Slam ​champion Novak Djokovic and US Open runner-up Ben Shelton among the high-profile casualties at the ATP Masters 1000 ⁠event.

Bergs produced a composed all-court performance, thriving in the quick conditions as the 27-year-old broke Alcaraz’s serve three times to ​clinch the biggest victory of his career.

Bergs had lost their only previous meeting, falling to Alcaraz in the last 16 of ​last year’s Japan Open, but showed no signs of intimidation as he outplayed the 23-year-old in key moments.

“This is something that has been very tough for me,” Bergs said, when asked about getting a win against one of the biggest names on the ATP Tour.

“I often have ​too much respect for these guys, which is part of my culture and I’m proud of that. But it gets a ​little bit in the way when you have to play them…

“The more experience you have practising against them and playing matches, the more ‌it ⁠becomes the new standard a little bit. To have this moment, for me it is a little bit of a relief. I feel like now I really can win against these guys…”

‘Dream Come True’

The upset also guaranteed French Open and US Open champion Zverev, 29, the ATP’s year-end world number one ranking, making him the first German and the oldest first-time player to achieve ​the feat.

Zverev’s route to the ​top spot opened after Italian Jannik Sinner had not played since beating him in the Wimbledon final on July 12 due to a knee injury.

The 25-year-old missed the North American hard-court swing, the US Open and the ​ongoing Asian swing. The five-times major winner will also sit out the European indoor season ​and the ATP ⁠Finals in Turin, where he has lifted the trophy in each of the last two years.

“It’s been a fantastic season for me winning in Paris and New York and knowing that I will finish the year on top of the rankings is just a ⁠dream come ​true,” said Zverev, who will face Kazakhstan’s 19th seed Alexander Bublik in ​the round of 16 in Shanghai.

“So much work and effort have been put into achieving this goal, especially after coming back from the ankle injury (at the ​2022 French Open semi-finals).

“I look forward to finishing the season in style.”