Carlos Alcaraz ‘Really Disappointed’ After Shock Opening-Round Exit at Paris Masters

Who would have thought that the player who has played 10 finals and won eight titles this season would crash out of his opening-round match at the Paris Masters? Carlos Alcaraz served well when he met Cameron Norrie on October 28. But his serving only could not help him secure a win as with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 scoreline, the Spaniard, for the third consecutive time, suffered an early-round exit in the last Masters 1000 of the season.

Alcaraz struggles on indoor hardcourts, but earlier this year, he clinched his first title on the surface by defeating Alex de Minaur in the Rotterdam Open final. He has a 6-1 win-loss record on the surface this year, but overall, it’s 31-13. A disappointed Alcaraz has vowed that he would never let such defeats happen again.

I don’t know. Yeah, yeah. I had a lot of practice 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.

Carlos Alcaraz said at the press conference

Norrie has improved his head-to-head record over the six-time Grand Slam champion to 3-5. He scheduled the match against the Spaniard after knocking out Argentina’s Sebastian Baez.

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.

Carlos Alcaraz added

Norrie will next be facing the winner of the match between cousins Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot, which will also be a rematch of this year’s Shanghai Masters final, where the Monegasque clinched a three-set win to deny the Frenchman his career’s first win. The Brit holds a 2-0 head-to-head lead over Rinderknech, following their meetings in the 2021 Lyon Open quarterfinal and this year’s Delray Beach Open round of 16.

Cameron Norrie on his biggest win of his career after beating Carlos Alcaraz

Cameron Norrie’s win over Carlos Alcaraz marks his first victory against a World No.1. This made him the fifth British man to beat a World No.1.

To get a win like this…this is the biggest win of my career, my first over a World No.1. Especially probably the most confident player in the world right now… him and Sinner combined. So pleased with the way I did it.

Cameron Norrie said during the on-court interview

Norrie also snapped Alcaraz’s streak of nine consecutive finals as well as 17 back-to-back Masters 1000 wins. Since the Monte Carlo Masters, Alcaraz reached every final of the tournaments he played, and apart from his first title in The Principality, he won the Italian Open and the Cincinnati Masters.

Norrie has one Masters 1000 title to his name- the 2021 Indian Wells. But since then, he has only once made the semifinals at this level. In Paris, he made his fourth appearance and failed to secure a main draw berth last year after losing his first qualifying round match.

Because of his defeat, it made things a bit easier for Jannik Sinner to dethrone Alcaraz from the top of the rankings table. Sinner will reclaim the No.1 spot if he wins the Paris Masters.

Also read: Alexander Zverev Expresses Dissatisfaction About the New Facilities at the Paris Masters

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