Carlos Alcaraz launched into a rant about controversial tennis balls on Monday as he suffered a 7-5, 7-6 (4) loss to Belgian Zizou Bergs to exit in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.

Last week’s Japan Open winner exploded in frustration as he lost in just over two hours to end his autumn Asian swing with mixed results.

The Spanish second seed could be heard on court arguing with his box over dissatisfaction with the state of the balls – a common complaint on the ATP, which switches balls almost at will between one event and the next.

The Yonex brand in use this week has a reputation for quick degradation, which annoys players. 

 “It can’t be that one ball bounces and the other slips on me. I can’t, man, I can’t play like this, man. Damn it!” Alcaraz yelled to his player box at a tense moment after losing the opening set.

Coach Samuel Lopez replied: “Hit more topspin to the backhand side. If you have to miss, miss big. And target the body more with your second serves. Keep going, give it a smack, damn it.” 

The advice proved to be useless, with Alcaraz exiting; the defeat will ensure that Alexander Zverev ends the season on world No. 1, replacing the injured Jannik Sinner.

The upset win handed Berg the biggest success of his career.

 “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. 

“This moment, for me, is a little bit of a relief. I feel like now I really can win against these guys. Not just I can play against them, but I can win against them.”

The No. 39 added: “It’s a little bit of disbelief and also not feeling too much,.

“It’s one of the moments where you don’t really realise what is going on, you’re just really in the moment and being focused on the points you have to play. 

“Now one minute after the match, it is tough to calm down a little bit, but I will be very happy.”

Main photo:- Zizou Bergs celebrates – by ISF Ltd

Venus Williams lost in Wimbledon mixed doubles on Friday and immediately went to ground, presumably ready to cop a fine of USD 50,000 for skipping a mandatory post-match media conference.

The 46-year-old elder sister’s disappearing act was a direct lift from her sibling Serena, 44, who failed to appear after losing in singles this week on a wild card entry.

Venus and German Kevin Kraweitz were eliminated 6-4, 6-4 by Briton Lloyd Glasspool and Slovak Tereza Mihalikova.

After her own singles transgression, Serena managed to escape the monetary sanction – mere pocket change to her – by claiming a medical loophole (knee injury) after she was beaten in three sets by Australian Maya Joint in the first round.

British tabloid media reported that Venus simply dismissed her doubles media duties and did not even provide a post-match statement as her younger sister had managed to do.

While the Williams siblings bend the rules to their needs, officials at the All England Club are apparently quite pleased to accommodate the fading players.

A women’s doubles opening match featuring the pair – which should have been completed by Friday – was held over to Saturday but without giving a starting time or court assignment.

The plan looks to be  to slot the Williams onto a showcourt if earlier matches finish quickly. Each of the over 40 siblings are playing at this edition on various wild card invitations. 

Main photo:- US Open 2023 Wildcard Venus Williams (USA) wearing shocking pink “night attire” embarrassingly loses first round match 6-1 6-1 in just one hour 13 minutes to qualifier and “wanders off into the sunset” Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd