Alcaraz Looked Ripe For An Upset At Paris Masters

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

PARIS/WASHINGTON, October 29, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

The Rolex Paris Masters was the first ATP Tour tournament for World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz since he won the 24th title of his young career – and eighth this season – at the Japan Open in Tokyo last month. It came on the heels of title runs at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. Recently, though, Alcaraz sat out the Rolex Shanghai Masters a couple of weeks ago to rest an ailing ankle and regroup.

In his quest to reach his 10th consecutive ATP Tour final, Alcaraz arrived in the City of Lights early to get acclimated to a new arena and a slower court surface. He appeared in a good frame of mind. However, Alcaraz finally met his match in No. 31 Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, who was formerly ranked as high as World No. 8 in 2022 but more recently had been struggling for months with a significant injury to his left forearm that sidelined him for several months during the 2024 season. As recent as this year’s French Open, Norrie was ranked 90th and having to play qualies to make it into main draws.

Tuesday evening,  in the new home for the tour’s final ATP Masters 1000 event and before a full house that filled the 17,500-seat Court Central at Paris La Défense Arena, Norrie beat Alcaraz, the Spanish No. 1 and Paris top seed, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. It lasted two hours and 22 minutes but it was worth it to the Briton. He put away his greatest triumph on his second match-point opportunity, then broke out a huge smile in celebration of what he had just accomplished. Perhaps, there was a sense of great relief, too.

Norrie did what few have done this season – especially at ATP Masters 1000 level. He won a match against Alcaraz, who had put together an impressive 17-match winning streak in ATP Masters 1000 competition and won titles in Monte-Carlo, Rome and Cincinnati. Now, after suffering just his eighth setback all season long, Alcaraz’s win-loss record stands at 67-8 with only the Nitto ATP Finals and Davis Cup still to go.

Meanwhile, the British No. 2 improved to 29-24 in 2025 and became the first player since Belgium’s David Goffin at Miami last March to beat Alcaraz before the final of an ATP Masters 1000 event. He did it by playing relentless, physical tennis and matching Alcaraz shot for shot. It may help explain the abundance of unforced errors produced by Alcaraz – an uncharacteristic and whopping 54. Norrie’s serving also improved, especially in the sets he won. He captured 79 percent (41 of 52) of his first serve points and was broken just once. By the end of the match, Norrie had outpointed Alcaraz by a healthy margin, 101-86.

Afterward, during his on-court interview with ATP Media, Norrie expressed his emotions and what the biggest victory of his career meant to him.

“Massive, so big for me,” the 30-year-old Norrie said. “I have been coming back from my injury. Last year, I lost first round of qualies here. I have just tried to enjoy my tennis in the second half of the year and I was able to do that and to get a win like this, the biggest of my career, my first over a World No. 1 and especially against the most confident player in the world right now, with [Jannik] Sinner combined. 

“I am just so pleased with the way I did it. I had a lot of chances and had to keep pushing and going for more and I was able to stay tough and get the win, so I am really pleased.”

Norrie’s upset win marked the first time he had defeated a World No. 1 after going 0-4. Now, he’s through to the third round at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time since Rome two years ago. He’s also equaled his best result in Paris, when he made it to the third round in 2021. Norrie has won one ATP Masters 1000 title, four years ago at Indian Wells in 2021. It seems a distant memory now but, at the time, showed what he had the potential of achieving when healthy and focused.

Later, during his post-match news conference, Norrie was asked to describe his emotions, how it felt playing on a new center court and what he thought was central to his success in beating Alcaraz on such a big stage.

“It was a really special victory for me,” he said. “I had to really keep pushing him and keep playing my game and I was able to take the tennis to kind of the way I like to play it, playing long points. And the intensity was so, so high in the match, right from the beginning. I felt comfortable with that.

“But I was able to stay calm in the third set and I thought I was the better player in the third set. So it was nice to capitalize on that break point and stay tough in that 4-3 game and stay calm to serve it out.”

Meanwhile, during his own post-match gathering, Alcaraz was asked what he thought was the key to Norrie’s upset victory over him. He explained: “Well I just didn’t feel well today. A lot of mistakes. Not feeling – I had not feeling at all. I think Norrie played reall y great tennis today, as well. Solid match, and I think that was the key. …

“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 … 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.”

Added Alcaraz: “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 break points, which I would say could have been 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.”

Alcaraz said he would return home and continue practicing in anticipation of the two remaining events on his 2025 tennis calendar: The Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Italy (Nov. 9-16) and the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna, Italy (Nov. 18-23).

“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,” Alcaraz said. “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 to let this thing happen again.”

Tuesday’s Rolex Paris Masters results

Wednesday’s Rolex Paris Masters order of play

By the numbers

Cameron Norrie is just the third player in Rolex Paris Masters history to upset the top seed in the opening round. Previously, Marc Rosset upset Pete Sampras in 1996, then Julien Benneteau defeated Roger Federer in 2009. 

“Quotable …”

“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.”

– Top seed Carlos Alcaraz, during his post-match news conference Tuesday evening, after losing his opening-round match to Cameron Norrie.

 

Search

Brigitte Urban
Tennis photographer
camera lens

International Blogs

Florian Heer

Björn Kroll beim Hamburg Ladies & Gents Cup: “Wir möchten unseren Spielern eine gute Plattform bieten!”

October 26, 2025

Michael Dickens

The Warrior: Rafael Nadal And His Kingdom Of Clay

May 16, 2025

Podcast

Categories