Briton beats world No. 1 for first time to reach Paris Masters last 16

Cameron Norrie produced the biggest victory of his career on Tuesday night, stunning World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 at the Rolex Paris Masters to reach the third round and end the Spaniard’s 17-match winning streak at the Masters 1000 level.

The 30-year-old Briton fought back from a set down to record his first-ever win over a world No. 1, in what he described as a “massive” result after a challenging year marked by injury setbacks.

“Massive, so big for me,” Norrie said. “I’ve been coming back from my injury, and last year I lost in the first round of qualifying here. To get a win like this — my first over a World No. 1 and against one of the most confident players in the world — is just huge. I’m really pleased with how I stayed tough and kept pushing.”

Alcaraz, playing his first match since capturing his eighth title of the season in Tokyo last month, looked rusty from the outset. The top seed hit 54 unforced errors and struggled for rhythm and timing throughout the two-hour, 22-minute contest.

Although he claimed the opening set after breaking Norrie in the sixth game, Alcaraz appeared frustrated and frequently consulted his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, as the match slipped away.

Norrie seized control midway through the second set, mixing deep, looping forehands with sharp angles to draw mistakes from the Spaniard. A break in the sixth game levelled the contest, and the Briton carried that momentum into the decider.

At 3–3 in the third, Norrie broke again with a searing backhand pass down the line and then held firm under pressure, saving two break points in the following game. When his second match point landed safely inside the baseline, he raised his fist to his team before soaking in the Paris crowd’s applause.

“That 4–3 game was crucial,” Norrie explained. “I saved a couple of break points there, and when I went to serve for the match, I reminded myself I deserved to be in this moment. I’d been tight in that situation before, but I stayed relaxed this time. It was a nice walk with my coach this morning that helped me prepare mentally — and it paid off.”

The victory snapped Alcaraz’s unbeaten run at Masters 1000 tournaments dating back to Miami in March, when he also lost his opening match. Since then, the Spaniard had lifted titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and Cincinnati.

For Norrie, it marked his first appearance in the last 16 of a Masters 1000 event since Rome in 2023 and equalled his best result in Paris, where he also reached the third round in 2021.

The Briton, ranked No. 31 in the world, will next face a home favourite — either Arthur Rinderknech or Valentin Vacherot — for a place in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s defeat could have ranking implications. Should Jannik Sinner win the Paris title this week, the Italian will reclaim the World No. 1 spot for the first time since the US Open.

Despite the loss, Alcaraz remains in strong contention for the ATP Year-End No. 1 honours, maintaining a 2,040-point lead over Sinner in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin.

The night, however, belonged to Norrie, who not only outlasted one of tennis’s fittest athletes but also rediscovered the form that once took him to the Indian Wells title in 2021.

“I just wanted to keep pushing him,” Norrie said. “It was such a physical match, but I felt comfortable with that. I’ve been working hard on my fitness — and tonight, that made all the difference.”