Bertolucci: "I had never seen Alcaraz so upset"

On Monday, world number one Carlos Alcaraz delivered one of the season's biggest surprises in Paris. Facing Britain's Cameron Norrie in his opening match, the young Spanish prodigy was defeated (4-6, 6-3, 6-4) in an unexpected match, leaving fans and experts stunned.

Accustomed to reaching the final stages of tournaments, Alcaraz appears to be in great difficulty when the indoor season arrives. But while the native of El Palmar showed himself to be very disappointed in the press conference, observers did not hesitate to give their opinions.

Indeed, former Italian player Paolo Bertolucci, a commentator for Sky, expressed his astonishment:

"He was very nervous and his team was trying to calm him down. I had never seen him so angry and making so many mistakes. He was trying to turn on the light, but he couldn't manage it. He complained throughout the match that he couldn't feel the ball and that the court was slow.

It was a bad day, for sure, and his concentration was at its lowest. So it's a truly unexpected defeat and one that opens up a gap in the top half of the draw. It will certainly benefit Sinner in the end."

This early exit in Nanterre thus marks a rare misstep for the Spanish prodigy, but it also serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of top-level tennis: even the best can have off days.