Wimbledon 2022 to welcome Zizou as tennis wildcard
Zizou Bergs was named after France football great Zinedine Zidane and will take his own sporting career to new heights at Wimbledon.
Zizou Bergs earned a wildcard for Wimbledon and a grand slam main draw debut by beating Jack Sock in the Ilkley Trophy final on Sunday. Named after Zinedine Zidane – the France, Juventus and Real Madrid football great who goes by the nickname ‘Zizou’ – Belgian Bergs has established his sporting career in tennis.
The Zizou of tennis
Bergs, 23, is ranked a lowly 207th by the ATP and had to come through qualifying to play in the Ilkley event, a Challenger Tour tournament in Yorkshire. Former world number eight Sock stood in his way in the final, but Bergs secured a 7-6 (9-7) 2-6 7-6 (8-6) victory over the American.
His father Koen Bergs wrote on Twitter: “Yesssssss. The tournament director announced during the ceremony the official reward of the WC for @Wimbledon main draw. History is made.”
His triumphant son added on Instagram: “WIMBLEDON MAIN DRAW WILDCARD!! Whuuuutttt”
Bergs completes the list of men’s singles wildcards, featuring alongside five British players plus Dutchman Tim van Rijthoven and Swiss three-time grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka.
Wimbledon begins on June 27 at the All England Club in south-west London.