Isaac Becroft reflects on gutsy fight against Zizou Bergs

Standing on Centre Court at Manuka Doctor Arena, Isaac Becroft came tantalisingly close to forcing one of the ASB Classic’s top contenders into a third set. 

Despite losing 6-3, 7-5 to Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, the Kiwi wildcard left the court with his head held high, inspired by the electric crowd and a glimpse of what it takes to compete at the sport’s highest level.

“I’m disappointed,” Becroft admitted after the match. “Up a break, 5-2 in the second, got a little bit nervous, had a couple of set points there. Once you get to a third set with a home crowd behind you, you just never know what can happen. I’m really disappointed at being one point away from making it really interesting.”

The 23-year-old from Wellington was making his debut in the main draw of an ATP 250 event, a significant milestone in his fledgling career. Despite the result, the match offered moments of promise as well as lessons to carry forward.

“The crowd was electric—it’s what you dream of when you’re young,” Becroft said. 

“I’m really gutted I couldn’t make the most of it and keep him out there for another hour. But yeah, a lot to learn, and hopefully I’ll go again next year.”

Becroft’s aggressive approach was evident throughout the match, as he looked to unsettle the world No. 66 with bold shot-making. “These guys are top 60, 70 in the world for a reason,” he said. 

“I just wanted to play my game. I’m never going to beat them just putting the ball in the middle of the court. So I tried to be aggressive, make him feel under pressure, and go for it. When I sleep tonight, I want to know that it was on my racquet and not his.”

The match was not just about performance but also about belief. Becroft acknowledged that self-confidence has been a challenge in the past when facing higher-ranked players. “I had a lot of belief in myself,” he said. “It’s not easy—you sort of have to bluff it. If I’m being honest, that’s probably been my biggest weakness before. 

“But I’ve got really good people around me, and they tell me I can win. It was close to being a really interesting match. So, there are positives, but obviously, I’m still gutted.”

Playing on Centre Court at a tournament he attended as a boy was a surreal moment for Becroft. 

“You can’t really put it into words,” he said. “It’s amazing. It shows me what I need to work on in my game, what I need to do to be No. 66 in the world and play these matches every week. For me, it happens once every 52 weeks of the year, but these guys play them every week.”

Currently completing a master’s degree at Oklahoma State University, Becroft is itching to get out on the circuit to see how far he can get.  

“I get to play tournaments like these two or three months a year,” he said. 

“Ideally, I’d play every single week, but I’ve got to spend 10 months at college getting my master’s. 

“My parents are really big on me getting a degree. But I’ve only got four more months left, and then I’m out there full-time. Ideally, I can get my ranking up and be playing these matches every day.”

Becroft’s next step is clear: to transition from college tennis to the professional circuit and give his career “an amazing crack.” With lessons learned from his ASB Classic debut, he hopes this experience will be the first of many on the ATP stage.

“Great experience,” he reflected. “I hope I can play again.”