Carlos Alcaraz joins Roger Federer, Sampras in unwanted list after shocking Paris Masters 2025 exit

Carlos Alcaraz is yet to win a title at the Paris Masters.

In what could be described as one of Carlos Alcaraz’s most disappointing performances of the season, the world No. 1 Spaniard crashed out of Paris Masters 2025 in the opening round, losing to Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

Coming in as the top seed, Carlos Alcaraz started strong by taking the first set, but Norrie fought back brilliantly to claim a 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 victory, the biggest win of his career this season and revenge of Wimbledon 2025 quarter-final loss.

The loss not only ended Alcaraz’s 17-match winning streak at the ATP Masters 1000 level but also placed him in an unwanted category—he becomes just the third top seeded player to lose his opening match at the Paris Masters since the ATP-1000 format was introduced in 1990.

The other two players to have suffered the same fate were Pete Sampras in 1996, when he lost to Marc Rosset 6–4, 6–4, and Roger Federer in 2009, when he fell to Julien Benneteau 3–6, 7–6(4), 6–4.

For Alcaraz, the loss marks his first defeat before a final since March 2025 and unfortunately, yet another early exit in Paris, a tournament where he has never progressed beyond the quarterfinals in five appearances.

The result also puts his world No. 1 ranking in jeopardy, as Italy’s Jannik Sinner could close the gap on the top spot if he wins the Paris Masters title.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner joins Tennis’ $50 million club after Vienna Open triumph

The match was explicitly special for the No. 31 Norrie, earning his first victory over a world No. 1 and one of the most important results of his career. “Such a special win, to beat probably the most confident player in the world right now,” Norrie said after the match.

Alcaraz had returned to action following a three-week break caused by an ankle injury that kept him out of the Shanghai Masters. He arrived in Paris looking for his first title at the tournament.

“I had a lot of practices here, which I was feeling great, feeling amazing, moving on the court, hitting the ball,” the 22-year-old explained.

However, during the match, he admitted he never found his rhythm. “Even in the first set that I won, I felt like I could have done much more.

“I tried to improve in the second set, but it was the opposite. I felt even worse. I didn’t feel well today. A lot of mistakes… I had no feeling at all,” he said, clearly disappointed.

Despite his frustration, Alcaraz was gracious in defeat and praised his opponent for taking full advantage. “I have to give credit to Cam because he didn’t let me stay or come back into the match. Norrie played really great tennis,” he concluded.

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