Cameron Norrie produced the biggest win of his career to shock world number one Carlos Alcaraz and book his place in the Paris Masters last 16. The British No.1 battled from a set down to triumph 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, sealing his first-ever victory over a reigning world No.1 with a display of courage and composure.
It was a night of redemption for Norrie, who just months ago was beaten in straight sets by Alcaraz in the Wimbledon quarter-finals. This time, under the roof of Bercy, he flipped the script. Recovering from a tight opening set, Norrie found his rhythm in the second, breaking early and keeping his nerve to level the match.
In the decider, the 29-year-old struck one of the shots of the night, an audacious backhand that broke Alcaraz’s serve and tilted the match in his favour. From there, he saved two break points with steady baseline play and sharp focus to complete a remarkable comeback. “This win is so big for me,” Norrie said. “My first win over a world number one, and probably the most confident player in the world right now. I am pleased with the way I did it.”
The victory carried extra meaning given Norrie’s journey back from injury. After missing last year’s US Open and the Olympic Games due to a forearm issue, he has been rebuilding quietly, rediscovering his confidence match by match. “I told myself I deserved to be in this moment,” he reflected, crediting a pre-match walk with his coach for calming his nerves. “It was a nice walk, a very important walk.”
For Alcaraz, it was a frustrating return from an ankle injury. The Spaniard committed 54 unforced errors and admitted he struggled to find his level. “I’m really disappointed about my level,” he said. “I have to give credit to Cam. He played really well, a solid match, and that was the key.”
