In a dramatic upset at the Rolex Paris Masters, World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock defeat in his opening match. He fell to 31st-ranked Briton Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday. The loss not only ends his campaign at the Bercy arena but also seriously jeopardises his position at the pinnacle of the ATP rankings.
The six-time Grand Slam champion, returning from a three-week layoff due to an ankle issue, now faces the prospect of losing the World No. 1 spot. Rival Jannik Sinner can claim the top ranking if he wins the title in Paris.
Alcaraz began the match with characteristic fire and flair, securing the first set. However, mirroring some of his mid-match dips earlier in the season, his level significantly declined in the second set.
Alcaraz left nonplussed after shock defeat to Norrie in Paris https://t.co/NSZpMwg8kt https://t.co/NSZpMwg8kt
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 29, 2025The mercurial Norrie capitalized decisively. Drawing admiring gasps from the capacity crowd at La Defense Arena, the Briton elevated his game. He broke Alcaraz twice at critical moments in the second and third sets. He displayed remarkable solidity, forcing errors from the usually unflappable Spaniard.
“I’m really disappointed about my level today,” a candid Alcaraz told reporters post-match. “I have to give credit to Cam… He played really well today, a solid match, and I think that was the key.”
A Paris SHOCKER 💥
The moment @cam_norrie defeated Alcaraz from a set down for his first ever win over a World No.1! #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/RES0TyjwNi
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 28, 2025For Norrie, the victory ranks among the finest 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,” said the former world number eight, calling it “maybe the number one” win of his career.
Read: Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Brooks Nader in US Open 2025 Love Triangle
The decisive moment came in the final set. After an animated discussion with his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, during the break, Alcaraz continued to struggle. He had particular difficulty with his first serve and backhand. Norrie finally secured the crucial break at 3-3. Despite a nerve-wracking moment where a match point was saved by a net cord, he composed himself to seal the victory on his second opportunity.
