Zizou Bergs is the Belgian number 2, who has not found much luck on the ATP Tour. Regardless of the difficulties, Bergs has continued to give his best in the sport. His support system is immaculate, which is needed when someone faces constant adversity. The Belgian player finds a strong pillar of support in his father, who will be with his son as he steps into the Italian Open.

Koen Bergs is Zizou Bergs’ father, and he currently works as the Chief Product Officer at Moore. Along with his corporate job, Koen also acts as a team member of Zizou’s coaching team. Moore’s CPO had seen Zizou develop into one of the best Belgian tennis players since he started playing with him when he was 3. 

Koen is also the biggest fan of the 24-year-old. “He’s definitely the biggest fan I have,” the player told ATP Tour.com. “He’s always watching, always waking up. I don’t know how he does it. He apparently doesn’t need a lot of sleep.”

Koen validated his son’s statement in another interview with the ATP Tour. “I’m his biggest fan. Not only his father, but also a big fan.” Furthermore, he makes sure never to miss a single match of his son, no matter the time, with a partner in tow. “I think I’ve watched every match the past two-and-a-half, three years, wherever he plays and whatever the timing is. My mother does it also, she stays up at night to watch her grandson’s matches.”

Koen and Zizou found the inspiration to play tennis from Koen’s father, who passed away in 2023. The eight-time Challenger Tour winner recognizes the efforts of his father and says no one believed in him more than his father.

“He was always like, ‘I believe in you, even though the results aren’t there.’ He always pushed me to do whatever I love to do, that was tennis. And he made sure that even if the times were complicated that I would continue persisting through it.” Despite working full-time, Keon has found the perfect way to support his son’s achievements. 

How Zizou Bergs finds his biggest supporter in his father

Koen also maintains a steady social media presence, where he offers his kid his support from afar. He observed that Zizou’s victory over Shang Juncheng on Tuesday, which qualified him for the Rome main draw, was significant. It was his late father’s — and Zizou’s grandfather’s — birthday. “Living this moment whilst my father in heaven is celebrating his birthday today. So proud of this young man, my family, his team and his fans,” Koen wrote on X.

Before he was ousted in the opening round of the Madrid Open, he reached the final of the Sarasota Challenger and won the Tallahassee Challenger. With two great runs on clay in the Challenger series, Zizou will face the best player on clay in the history of the surface.

When he faces Rafael Nadal, Zizou’s father will be in the stands, cheering on for his son. Will his support be enough to launch him to victory? Or will he fall against Nadal?