Cameron Norrie stuns Carlos Alcaraz in Paris, ends World No. 1’s Masters streak
I’ve covered enough tennis seasons to know that momentum can turn on a dime, but even by that measure, Cameron Norrie’s night in Paris felt seismic.
Under the bright lights of Bercy, the unassuming Brit left the world of men’s tennis blinking in disbelief when he dismantled Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to earn his first-ever win over a World No. 1 and end the Spaniard’s 17-match winning streak at Masters 1000 events.
For Norrie, it was more than an upset. It was redemption. Just a year ago, he couldn’t even make it past the qualifying draw here. Now, he’s through to the last 16 for the first time since Rome in 2023, toppling the player many view as the sport’s present and future.
“It’s massive — so big for me,” Norrie said afterward, his voice still tinged with disbelief. “Last year I lost first round of qualies here, so to come back and beat the World No. 1, it’s surreal. I’ve been trying to enjoy my tennis again, and tonight I really did.”
From the opening game, Norrie made his intentions clear. No stage fright, no intimidation. He even stole the early applause with a flicked backhand pass that had the crowd gasping.
Still, Alcaraz struck first blood. When Norrie double-faulted at 2-all in the opening set, the Spaniard pounced, curling a forehand crosscourt to grab the break and, soon after, the set.
But that was where the aura stopped. The usually electric Alcaraz — fresh off a Tokyo title and riding high with trophies from Monte Carlo, Rome, and Cincinnati — suddenly looked off-tempo.
His legs were heavy, his forehand timing off, and by the end of the night, his stat sheet told the story. 54 unforced errors, a number almost unthinkable for him. Between games, he exchanged frustrated words with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, but no pep talk could patch the rhythm that had deserted him.
Norrie, meanwhile, was locked in. The 30-year-old Brit chased everything, absorbed Alcaraz’s power, and countered with his looping lefty forehand that kicked viciously off the baseline. He broke midway through the second set, forcing a decider that seemed to rattle the top seed
If there’s one hallmark of Norrie’s career, it’s his ability to grind. The third set was all about that. Relentless hustle and mental steel. The turning point came at 3-3 when Norrie unleashed a sharp backhand pass to break serve. Then came the nerves. A tense 4-3 game where he faced two break points.
“That game was everything,” Norrie later admitted. “I saved a couple of break points, and from there, I told myself to keep pushing. I actually went for a walk with my coach this morning just to talk through moments like serving for a match, and it helped.”
When he finally closed it out after two hours and 22 minutes, he dropped his racquet, pumped his fist toward his box, and grinned as if he couldn’t quite believe it himself. It wasn’t flashy tennis, but it was ferociously disciplined. Vintage Norrie.
For Alcaraz, it was an uncharacteristic performance. He had looked untouchable at Masters 1000 events for nearly eight months, stringing together 17 wins and three titles.
Yet on this Paris night, he was mortal. Flat-footed, error-prone, and visibly frustrated. The defeat marked just his eighth loss of the season, and it could have ripple effects.
With Jannik Sinner in striking distance, the World No. 1 ranking suddenly feels less secure. If the Italian were to lift the trophy in Paris, he’d reclaim top spot for the first time since the US Open.
Still, Alcaraz remains ahead in the year-end race to Turin, holding a 2,040-point cushion. But this loss will sting. He’d been the man who could do no wrong. Until a tenacious Brit reminded him that consistency sometimes trumps brilliance.
Norrie’s victory also places him in rare company. Only two other players have ever knocked out the top seed in the opening round at the Paris Masters. Julien Benneteau, who toppled Roger Federer in 2009, and Marc Rosset, who stunned Pete Sampras back in 1996. Now, Norrie joins that exclusive list.
