Carlos Alcaraz’s Paris Masters campaign came to a grinding halt on Tuesday as he was stunned in his opening match by British star Cameron Norrie.
Norrie has now won three of his last five contests against the Spaniard, with his first triumph coming at the 2022 Cincinnati Open.
The Brit proved too strong for Alcaraz, and his woeful Paris Masters record has been further compounded.
This result has a significant impact on the year-end world number one race – Jannik Sinner now has the opportunity to reclaim the top spot following Alcaraz’s stunning loss.
The Spaniard, by his own admission, never really found his top form against Norrie, who performed superbly throughout the match.
Alcaraz spoke to the media after the match, where he attempted to make sense of his underwhelming performance.
Carlos Alcaraz reacts to stunning Cameron Norrie defeat
Cameron Norrie is one of the few players on the ATP Tour who has managed to consistently defeat Alcaraz throughout the course of his career.
Although Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 5-3, Norrie has won three of the last five matches they have played.
A year after recording his first win against Alcaraz at the 2022 Cincinnati Open, Norrie defeated Alcaraz in the 2023 Rio Open final.
Moreover, Alcaraz has failed to defeat Norrie in consecutive matches since 2022.
During his post-match press conference in Paris, Alcaraz was asked if he expected ‘the lack of sensation’ he had felt on court.
Alcaraz replied: “I don’t know. Yeah, yeah. I had a lot of practices here, which I was feeling great, feeling amazing, moving on the court, hitting the ball. I had all the ideas clear, all the goals clear.
“But today, even in the first set, even that I won, I just felt like I could do much more than what I did. I tried in the second set just to be better, but it was totally the opposite. I just feel even worse.
“I think I have to give credit to Cam, as well, because I think he didn’t let me stay or come back to the match. I had few breakpoints, which I would say could have been really helpful for me. I didn’t take it with really easy mistakes. I’m really disappointed about my level today, and it is what it is.”
The Spaniard was then asked: “How do you think you can recover for the last three tournaments of the year now if you’re physically below your best right now?”
Alcaraz replied: “Well, I don’t know. I will try to prepare myself as better as I can, coming to Turin, coming to Davis Cup, really important tournaments that I have ahead right now.
“Right now I just want to be back home, and let’s see what I’m going to do. But of course I’m going to practice and prepare myself, and obviously I will try not let this thing happen again.”
The Spaniard is expected to compete at the ATP Finals, where the world number one ranking will be at stake. He has also planned to represent Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna.
During the same press conference, Alcaraz was asked to explain his ‘complicated story at the Paris Masters.
The 22-year-old has failed to advance past the quarter-final stage in five attempts. His best result at the Paris Masters came in 2022, when he retired from his quarter-final match against eventual champion Holger Rune.
The Spaniard has also recorded two second-round exits in Paris, and two third-round exits.
In 2024, Alcaraz was upset by eventual finalist Ugo Humbert in the third round, losing 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. Humbert has withdrawn from the 2025 event.
Following his loss to Norrie at this year’s event, Alcaraz attempted to rationalise his troubling form in Paris.
He said: “I don’t know. I came here really well. I came here with a lot of energy. I came here thinking that I could do good results because I have been playing really good tennis.
“This is the best year for me in terms of playing at the end of the year. So I’ve been talking with some other players, with my team, that I feel great. Other years I feel exhausted, I feel tired, I feel mentally, physically, but this year I feel good.
“I skipped Shanghai. I have been at home quite much days that I could enjoy myself there and relax, I help battery, so I don’t know what happened here.
“But I don’t know. It is a tournament that, yeah, it’s really difficult for me to play well, but I will figure it out, and I will end up playing great tennis here, for sure.”
Cameron Norrie reacts to the ‘biggest win of my career’
Speaking on court immediately after his victory, Norrie expressed his delight at triumphing against the Spaniard.
He said: “Massive. So big for me. I’ve been coming back from my injury… last year I lost first round of qualifiers here. Just trying to enjoy my tennis the second half of the year. I was able to do that.
“To get a win like this… this is the biggest win of my career, my first over a world number one. Especially probably the most confident player in the world right now – him and Sinner combined.
“So pleased with the way I did it. Having a lot of chances and having to keep pushing and keep going for more. I was able to stay tough and get the win. I’m really pleased.”
Norrie will await the winner of Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech in the third round. Vacherot and Rinderknech, who are cousins, will contest their first match since the Shanghai Masters final.
If Norrie defeats Vacherot or Rinderknech, he will face one of Casper Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniel Altmaier or Alexandre Muller in the quarter-finals.
