For months, Carlos Alcaraz seemed untouchable—a whirlwind of talent, precision, and confidence that swept through the ATP Tour with the grace of a prodigy and the hunger of a veteran. Nine straight finals (excluding the Six Kings Slam final), nine chances to lift trophies (he won seven times out of nine). But in Paris, under the bright lights of the Accor Arena, that streak came to an unexpected halt—and with it, a reminder that even the most gifted can stumble.

It was the 30-year-old Cameron Norrie, the unassuming Brit known for his consistency and quiet grit, who halted Alcaraz’s march. He defeated the Spaniard by 4-6, 6-3, and 6-4, and this defeat not only ended his hopes of a first Paris Masters title but also ended his 17 consecutive match winning streak. Not only that, since the ATP-1000 format in 1990, Alcaraz is ‌now the third top seed to lose his opening match at the Paris Masters after Pete Sampras in 1996 and Roger Federer in 2009.

If we analyze this match, fresh from claiming his eighth title of the 2025 season in Tokyo, Carlos Alcaraz was far from his best right from the word ‘go’ in this match, racking up 54 unforced errors and venting his frustration to his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, during the match. He didn’t look too pleased with the surface at the Paris Masters and claimed it was more like playing on clay, “worse than in Monte Carlo.” He felt he was doing everything wrong in this match, and later on, after the match, during the post-match interview, Alcaraz stated, “I had a lot of practices 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.”

This was Cameron Norrie’s first win over a world number one and the second Top 10 win of the 2025 season. Since the event’s inauguration in 1986, Cameron Norrie is now the second-oldest player to defeat the world number one at the Paris Masters. This was his third win over Alcaraz in their eight meetings. Speaking about the Brit, Alcaraz later on added, “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.”

With this win, Norrie has now reached the R16 of the Paris Masters for the first time since 2021. He’ll now face a wildcard, Valentin Vacherot or Arthur Rinderknech, in the next round. While sharing his thoughts about this big win against Carlos Alcaraz, the Brit said, “Massive. So big for me. I’ve been coming back from my injury… last year I lost the first round of qualies here. Just trying to enjoy my tennis in the second half of the year. I was able to do that. To get a win like this…this is the biggest win of my career, my first over a world #1. Especially, probably the most confident player in the world right now…him and Sinner combined. So pleased with the way I did it.”

So, this is really a massive moment for Cameron Norrie, but what about Alcaraz? This is a huge setback before the ATP Finals!

With Carlos Alcaraz’s recent defeat, the year-end number one battle becomes more interesting

As the ATP season draws to a close. Carlos Alcaraz will have to regroup quickly. With Turin and the year-end number one race still in play, every match now carries added weight. 

Alcaraz’s defeat was the first time he had lost before a final since March, and this loss also snapped his 17-match winning streak at Masters 1000 events. But does this shocking exit from the Paris Masters impact his battle with Jannik Sinner in the race to be the year-end world number one?

If we take a look at the ATP Live Rankings, Carlos Alcaraz currently sits at the top spot with 11,250 points, while Jannik Sinner is in ‌second place with 10,510. So, there is a gap of 740 points between the two. But if Sinner wins the title in Paris, he will then return to the world number one spot for just one week before handing it back to Alcaraz ahead of the ATP Finals, where the Italian will drop 1,500 points earned by his title triumph last year.

Suppose Jannik Sinner becomes the undefeated champion at the ATP Finals; then Alcaraz will have to pick up just 450 points in that tournament to finish the year as the world number one. So, that means the Spaniard has to reach the final with at least one group stage win or remain undefeated in group stage play.

However, when it came to sharing his thoughts about his chances of snatching the crown from Carlos Alcaraz this season, Sinner clearly said, “No, it’s impossible. I mean…honestly, I’m not thinking about this at the moment. It’s going to be a goal for next year. This year, it’s not in my hands. Let’s say it like this.” But how does Alcaraz look at things now?

In his post-match interview at the Paris Masters, the Spanish superstar said, “Well, I don't know. I will try to prepare myself as better as I can, coming to Turin, coming to Davis Cup, really important tournaments that I have ahead right now. Right now I just want to be back home, and let's see what's I gonna do. But of course I'm gonna practice and prepare myself, and obviously I will try not let this thing happen again.” 

So, there are a lot of actions left in 2025! But who between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner do you think will finish the year as the world number one?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta