Cameron Norrie delivered a stunning performance at the Paris Masters on Tuesday, defeating world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in a gripping three-set battle to reach the third round.
Alcaraz, fresh off his eighth title of the season in Tokyo, started strong by taking the first set 6-4. However, Norrie responded with resilience, winning the next two sets 6-3, 6-4. The match lasted two hours and 22 minutes, with Norrie saving two crucial break points in the final set before sealing the victory.
Alcaraz struggled throughout the match, committing 54 unforced errors and showing visible frustration in exchanges with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. This loss marks his first defeat before a final at a Masters 1000 event since March, ending a dominant run that included titles in Monte Carlo, Rome, and Cincinnati.
“Massive, so big for me,” Norrie said after the match. “I’ve been coming back from injury and just tried to enjoy my tennis. To get a win like this, my first over a world number one, especially against the most confident player in the world right now, is huge.”
With this win, Norrie advances to the last 16 of a Masters event for the first time since Rome 2023 and matches his best Paris performance from 2021. He will next face either Valentin Vacherot or Arthur Rinderknech, who meet in a rematch of the Shanghai Masters final.
Alcaraz now risks losing his year-end No. 1 ranking if Italy’s Jannik Sinner captures the Paris title this week.
