Unrecognizable Alcaraz, with 54 unforced errors, knocked out early by Norrie in Paris
Carlos Alcaraz made his debut at the Paris Masters 1000, but was far from the level he has shown for many months.
To kick off the evening session on the Center Court of La Défense Arena this Tuesday evening, what could be better than world number one Carlos Alcaraz to start the second-round program? The Spaniard could also reach the round of 16 as early as Tuesday night in Paris.
To do so, the six-time Grand Slam winner needed to overcome Cameron Norrie, whom Alcaraz has already faced seven times in the past (5-2 for Alcaraz). However, the ever-tenacious Brit already had a match under his belt in this tournament, having eliminated Sebastian Baez (6-3, 6-4) on Monday in the first round.
Very quickly, the spectators on the Center Court could see that the Spaniard was not at his best. In the first set, and despite significant forehand errors, Alcaraz, efficient on the opponent's serve (one break point obtained and converted), eventually won the first set with difficulty in 52 minutes.
But Norrie, who has now beaten Alcaraz twice in his career (including once on hard court in Cincinnati in 2022), sensed there was probably an opportunity to be seized today.
Facing a player who committed 19 unforced errors in the second set, a solid Norrie hung in there and broke early in the second set.
Logically, he forced a decisive set against a version of Alcaraz we hadn't seen in many months: a hesitant player, lost on the court, missing shots well within his reach.
He didn't hesitate to share his feelings with his team, and more specifically with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, before the start of the third set.
"I don't feel anything. Zero! It's worse than Monte-Carlo. The only thing saving me is my serve. I'm doing everything wrong," Alcaraz then told his coach.
An impression that was confirmed in the third set. Although he was leading the race, the Spaniard had to save break points in almost all of his service games, until the inevitable happened: Norrie managed to break with an excellent return to lead 4-3.
After saving two break-back points in the following game, the 30-year-old Brit, who was very solid despite his opponent's nervousness in this match, pulled off the feat and won in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 2 hours and 22 minutes).
The world number 31 claims victory over Alcaraz for the third time in his career, nearly three years after his last success against the 22-year-old player in the Rio de Janeiro final. Norrie advances to the round of 16 where he will face either Arthur Rinderknech or Valentin Vacherot on Thursday.
It's the end of streaks, however, for Carlos Alcaraz, who hadn't lost to a left-handed player since his semi-final against Jack Draper in Indian Wells at the start of the season. The Spaniard had also reached the final in his last ten tournaments on the tour, since his first-round loss to David Goffin in Miami.
The big winner of the evening, ultimately, might be the Spaniard's rival, namely Jannik Sinner, the world number 2 who is formidable on hard courts. The Italian surely sees the draw opening up with this defeat of Alcaraz, who committed 54 unforced errors in this match.
Paris 
It's a 6 programs worst day.