What a week Zizou Bergs has had. The Belgian tennis player won the Ilkley Lawn Championship qualifier. In the final, he defeated American Jack Sock, a former top ten player, after 3 tough sets.
“Soc came before a break in the third set, but I found a solution,” says the 23-year-old. Our compatriot also put his back against the wall in the tiebreak.
“I had a match point against, but I was still able to put everything to my liking.” Berg did it with good points. “I can often play my best tennis on the most important points.”
For dessert, Berggs received a wild card in the main draw for Wimbledon thanks to his victory. “I knew the tradition and knew it was vulnerable. Since my first win in the main draw at Elkley, I’ve been a bit worried about it.”
“When I won the final, I got the good news straight away, that was a great moment. To be able to make my debut on the sacred lawn at Wimbledon is a dream.”
And Bergs, who will enter the top 150, will not go to Wimbledon without ambition. “I’m confident in my abilities. I can go there with the goal of winning some matches. We have a week to prepare well.”
“Grass is now my favorite surface,” laughs Bergs. “I didn’t expect it, because turf wasn’t a success story in the juniors. But I was told turf should be with me in my game and now I feel very good on the grass.”
Why does Briggs play so well with turf? “I always try to play attacking. That’s my natural style and then the extroverted Zizou comes out and has a party on the field, with the balls on the table,” I say.
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