“We motivate each other”: Koen Bergs inspired to compete by son Zizou
The captain of Belgium's men's team for players aged 55 and above at the 2025 Masters World Team Championships has a recognisable name: Koen Bergs - he is the father of current top 50 ATP player Zizou.
Although Belgium finished 12th in the Austria Cup, Koen reflected positively on his experience in Lisbon.
“I have really enjoyed the ITF Masters World Team Championships this year," he said. "It was a fantastic week. Although our results were not so good, it is always a pleasure to be involved in a team event like this.”
With a career-high ranking of No. 91 in the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour Rankings, Bergs often plays on the Tour and encourages others to do the same.
“I would encourage everyone to play on the ITF World Masters Tennis Tour," he added. "In particular, the ITF Masters World Team Championships is a brilliant event because you meet a lot of new people from many different nations, and you get the opportunity to compete against them.”
For Koen, watching his son Zizou’s rise through professional tennis inspires him to continue competing at the age of 57.
“My son is part of my motivation," he said. "I never miss one of his matches. He also gives me a lot of encouragement to continue playing tennis. He says, ‘dad, you have to keep on playing even though you’re getting older’.”
Motivation is mutual in the Bergs family, as Zizou is inspired by the efforts of his father.
“We motivate each other," he added. "He also follows my matches, and he is always one of the first to congratulate me. I just received a message from him asking whether I won my match today.”
Bergs was not the only parent of a current professional tennis player in action last week in Lisbon.
Susannah Dart, mother of current Top 100 WTA player Harriet Dart, was part of the Great Britain team which finished 13th in the Maureen Connolly Cup - for women aged 55 and above.
You can view all the results from the 2025 Masters World Team Championships (50, 55):