Cameron Norrie booed by Paris Masters fans after heated celebration during loss to Valentin Vacherot

Cameron Norrie’s Paris Masters campaign ended in drama and deafening boos after the British No. 1 angered the French crowd with his on-court celebrations during a tense defeat to Valentin Vacherot.

The 29-year-old, who was the last British player standing at the tournament, lost in straight sets, 7-6, 6-4, to the Monaco-based player, but it was his reaction midway through the match that truly set the arena alight.

Late in the first set, with Vacherot leading 6-5, Norrie won a crucial point and turned to the stands, lifting both arms high in the air — not once, but twice. What was meant as a show of determination instantly backfired. The Paris crowd erupted in disapproval, showering the Brit with loud boos that echoed around the Accor Arena.

The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile from that moment on. Every cheer for Vacherot was matched by jeers for Norrie, who appeared visibly rattled as the match slipped away.

By the time the final point was played, the French-speaking crowd had made their feelings clear: the night belonged to their adopted home favourite.

Vacherot, 25, born in southeastern France but representing Monaco internationally, rode the energy of the partisan audience to one of the biggest wins of his career. “I’ve been training and working for years, and everything is clicking now,” he said afterwards. “It’s the work of many, many years — I’m just glad it’s paying off.”

For Norrie, the defeat marks a frustrating end to what had been a promising run in Paris. After toppling world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz earlier in the week, he had seemed poised to mount a deep challenge. Instead, he found himself in the uncomfortable role of pantomime villain — jeered, unsettled, and ultimately outplayed.

The first set was tight throughout, with both players holding serve under pressure. Vacherot edged the tiebreak with smart variety and fearless hitting, while Norrie’s consistency faltered under the weight of the crowd’s hostility. In the second set, the Brit fought hard but never fully regained his composure.

Observers noted that Norrie, typically one of the tour’s more restrained personalities, seemed uncharacteristically fired up during the match — perhaps feeding off the emotional high of his earlier victory over Alcaraz. But in Paris, such energy is a gamble. The locals, fiercely protective of their own, have never been shy about voicing displeasure toward perceived disrespect on court.

“Paris crowds love passion — but they also punish arrogance, real or imagined,” one commentator noted on air. “Norrie’s gesture might have been small, but in that moment, it crossed a line for them.”

Vacherot’s story, meanwhile, has captured imaginations across French-speaking tennis circles. A former college player in the United States, he entered the tournament as a wildcard — his reward for a breakthrough performance at the Shanghai Masters earlier this year, where he also defeated his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, in the final. Ranked world No. 204 only a few months ago, he’s now becoming one of the sport’s most unexpected success stories.

With his win, Vacherot became the closest thing to a “home” player left in the Paris draw, after injuries forced the withdrawals of top Frenchmen Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils. The crowd embraced him wholeheartedly — and found in Norrie a convenient antagonist.

For British fans, the loss leaves a bitter note at the end of the season. With Jack Draper sidelined by injury and Andy Murray still recovering from setbacks, Norrie had carried the nation’s hopes deep into the final Masters event of the year.

He may now opt to rest before the final stretch of the ATP calendar, with the Moselle Open and the Hellenic Championship both possible options — though, after the boos of Paris, a quieter setting might be welcome.