The 2025 Paris Masters is unfolding just the way fans would expect. Consider it a package full of electrifying thrills, raw emotions, and endless drama. And mind you, we’re only in the opening stages of the tournament, yet the on-court battles have already been nothing short of intense. But who would have thought that things would end up heating up off the court as well? For context, one needs to be filled in about Tuesday’s round of 64 clash between Alex Michelsen and Zizou Bergs.

Both were locked in quite a grueling match, as it was the American tennis star who endured a tough 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 defeat against the Belgian. More than the loss itself, it was Michelsen’s reaction to his final shot, one that hit the net and cost him the match, that drew all the attention. The moment the ball clipped the upper part of the net, he instantly began smashing his tennis racket in frustration. Simultaneously, while Michelsen’s racket was being annihilated, Bergs was celebrating his win, quickly breaking into the iconic moonwalk dance step before jumping up in the air and clenching his fists as the crowd roared behind him.

But both players soon managed to contain themselves after about five seconds of emotional outburst, walking toward the center of the court, one with his head down and the other still buzzing with energy, to shake hands and congratulate each other, as well as the umpire, with composure. Of course, this moment had to make tennis headlines, with Tennis TV sharing the clip on their Instagram page. That’s when it caught the eye of Reilly Opelka, who decided to make some rather interesting comments.

First, he wrote, “I’d rather lose 6-2 in the third than win 6-2 in the third and moonwalk,” which was nothing short of a subtle dig at Zizou Bergs for celebrating his victory. The American seemed skeptical about seeing the European star celebrate a match that saw him lose, then win, and then lose again before finally pulling it off.

Regardless, Opelka’s comment quickly gathered hundreds of likes and plenty of fan interaction. But just when everyone thought Bergs might stay silent, the 26-year-old surprisingly fired back, replying, “I’d rather play than not play in Q’s 😘,” a friendly jab aimed at the 28-year-old American.

More to that, its an indirect reference to Opelka’s first-round defeat against Corentin Moutet, where he ironically lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, witnessing his exit from the Paris Masters. No wonder Bergs’ reply went viral, amassing thousands of likes and even more engagement. Not one to stay quiet, Opelka added another comment soon after, writing, “My fav TikToker in the game.”

Boy, do we feel the heat from those exchanges! But of course, it’s all harmless banter aimed at each other. We bet fans must have loved seeing the spirit of the game stay alive even beyond the court. However, the same can’t be said for everyone.

Being alive in Paris Masters isn’t enough for Zizou Bergs to overshadow Reilly Opelka!

Many would suggest that Zizou Bergs’ reply to Reilly Opelka was an ice-cold, mic-drop moment. But that wasn’t quite how tennis pro Nick Kyrgios saw it. Resharing a tweet that showcased the Instagram comment exchange between the two, Kyrgios wrote, “Weak a** reply 🤣 Opelka has made finals of Masters events — before wrist surgery, he was going deep pretty much all the time 🤷🏽‍♂️ real ones know.”*

This suggested that even though Bergs had the upper hand in questioning Opelka’s current form at the Paris Masters, Kyrgios wasn’t convinced. The Aussie reminded everyone that Opelka was once among the top contenders on tour, at least before injuries derailed his momentum. Then again, Bergs’ confidence against Opelka could stem from their previous encounter, where he dominated the American at the 2025 Libéma Open semifinals, winning 6-1, 6-4.

And now, Bergs is once again making his presence felt at the Paris Masters, gearing up to face World No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the Round of 32. It remains to be seen whether he can pull off another big upset to strengthen his point against Opelka.