Cameron Norrie stuns Carlos Alcaraz in Paris Masters upset

WEB DESK: Carlos Alcaraz’s strong run of form came to a sudden halt in Paris as Britain’s Cameron Norrie produced a brilliant fightback to hand the world number one a shock 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat in the second round of the Paris Masters on Tuesday.

The Spaniard, who arrived in the French capital after lifting titles at the US Open, the Cincinnati Open and the Japan Open, looked well on course after taking the first set. But his game began to unravel midway through the second, littered with 54 unforced errors and flashes of visible frustration.

Norrie, ranked 31st in the world, seized the moment. Staying composed throughout, the 30-year-old broke Alcaraz twice in the final two sets to register one of the biggest wins of his career. “I’ve been working really hard this year, so it’s nice to get a win like this to make it worth it,” Norrie said after the match, calling the victory “maybe the number one” of his career.

For Alcaraz, it was another disappointing outing at a tournament that continues to trouble him. The 22-year-old has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in Paris and admitted he “had no feeling at all” for the ball during the match.

“I came here with a lot of energy. I was confident because I’ve been playing really good tennis,” Alcaraz told reporters. “This is the best I’ve felt at this stage of the season in years. I rested after skipping Shanghai, I felt fresh, but somehow I couldn’t find my rhythm here.”

During a tense moment before the deciding set, Alcaraz was seen in an animated exchange with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, but the pep talk did little to turn things around. His first serve faltered, his backhand went astray, and despite saving multiple break points, Norrie eventually broke through to seal the win in just over two hours.

The result also leaves Alcaraz’s position at the top of the ATP rankings under threat, with Italy’s Jannik Sinner having a chance to overtake him if he wins the Paris title.

Still, Alcaraz insisted he would use the setback as motivation. “Right now I just want to be back home, reset, and prepare for what’s next,” he said. “I’ll be ready for Turin and the Davis Cup. These are important tournaments, and I don’t want to let this happen again.”

Norrie, meanwhile, will look to build on the momentum from what could be a defining victory in his season.