The week after a profession milestone, harm immediately struck Zizou Bergs.
The 24-year-old reached his maiden tour-level quarter-final on the ATP 250 occasion in Gstaad in July and the following week Bergs was enjoying a doubles match on the ATP Challenger Tour occasion in Zug, Switzerland when he tore a ligament in his left wrist.
“I did a primary serve after which on the third ball, I hit a backhand and it acquired torn. That’s one thing that scares you. A standard backhand and stuff like that may occur,” Bergs advised ATPTour.com on the Calgary Nationwide Financial institution Challenger. “From that second, it was my final backhand and the day after in singles I used to be doing solely slice.”
Bergs then went residence to Belgium to go to a specialist who straightaway knew the issue. “The ligament was damaged, so the tendon clicks out and that was the difficulty,” Bergs mentioned.
Surgical procedure would have meant Bergs can be out for at the very least six months, so the World No. 180 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings took an alternate route. He stepped away from competitors for a month to give attention to rehab. Bergs returned for US Open qualifying and till final month on the ATP 250 occasion in Antwerp, he was hitting solely slice backhands.
“[Corentin] Moutet impressed me to do it as a result of I knew he had the identical problem and he was doing it. Or else I needed to be out for 3, 4 months and I understand how laborious it’s to return again to competitors after being out,” Bergs mentioned.
“I used to be somewhat apprehensive I’d lose a whole lot of momentum from that and I additionally thought it will be a enjoyable problem to go on the market enjoying slice and competing in opposition to the perfect gamers on this planet. In the long run I can say I truly loved it. Having these months of solely slicing, I’m effectively satisfied it’s going to assist me.”
Zizou Bergs: Challenger Tour Star Who Donates Gear To Africa
Simply two months earlier than struggling the wrist harm, Bergs was lifting his fifth ATP Challenger Tour trophy in Tallahassee, Florida. Now again at 100 per cent well being, Bergs is hoping to regain his greatest kind within the ultimate 4 weeks of the season.
“I wish to get the complete reward from the final months, having this recreation with the slice, feeling like I’ve improved lots on the forehand, serve and volleys,” Bergs mentioned. “I’d prefer to see every little thing come to position, which isn’t going to occur on the primary match however I actually hope that I’m preventing the hell out of myself as a result of I’m actually pumped to get it going once more at full capability.
“Then [I hope] simply to develop every little thing collectively, being an aggressive participant and having this second backhand that I didn’t have earlier than. Then hopefully the outcomes will comply with as a result of I’m actually devoted to getting within the Prime 100. I actually consider I’ve the extent to be there and keep there however I wish to get there.”
Even within the problem of coping with harm, Bergs discovered the optimistic aspect, citing drastic enchancment on his backhand slice.
“The distinction between the start and the tip is outstanding!” he mentioned, whereas cracking fun.
