“I didn’t feel the ball at all”: Carlos Alcaraz explains stunning Paris Masters defeat

Carlos Alcaraz faced a surprising setback in his Paris Masters opener, falling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Britain’s Cameron Norrie in what marked his first first-round defeat in more than seven months. The World No. 1 was candid in his post-match remarks, admitting that he “didn’t feel the ball at all” throughout the contest, as Norrie produced a solid and disciplined performance to seal one of the biggest upsets of the week.

Despite a strong start — taking the opening set 6-4 — the 22-year-old Spaniard visibly struggled to find rhythm in the second and third sets. His timing was off, his unforced errors piled up, and Norrie capitalised with remarkable consistency from the baseline. “A lot of mistakes, not feeling well, not feeling the ball at all,” Alcaraz said in press conference. “I think Norrie played really great tennis today, very solid. That was the key.”

Alcaraz’s defeat in Paris ends a remarkable run of first-round victories stretching back to the Miami Open earlier this season, when he lost to David Goffin. During 2025, the Spaniard has compiled a sensational 67–8 record in 2025, claiming eight titles — including the French Open, the US Open, and three Masters 1000 trophies. His season earnings have surpassed $16 million, and he has maintained a winning percentage above 90%.

The loss also comes at a delicate time in the ATP Rankings. With Alcaraz’s early exit, Jannik Sinner now has the opportunity to overtake him if he captures the title in Paris. The Spaniard will now turn his focus to the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals, two events that will define the final chapter of what has still been one of the most dominant seasons of his young career.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Alcaraz gave an honest assessment of what went wrong. “I had a lot of practices here, feeling great, moving well, hitting the ball clean. Everything was clear in my mind — my goals, my ideas,” he explained. “But today, even in the first set, even though I won, I felt like I could do much more. I tried to be better in the second set, but it was totally the opposite — I just felt even worse.”

Alcaraz also praised Norrie’s persistence and tactical awareness. “Cam didn’t let me come back into the match. I had a few break points that would have been really helpful, but I made easy mistakes,” he said. “I’m really disappointed about my level today, but it is what it is.” Despite his frustration, the Spaniard maintained composure and promised to regroup quickly ahead of the packed November schedule.

When asked about recovery plans for the rest of the year, Alcaraz was reflective but determined. “I’ll try to prepare myself as best as I can. Turin and the Davis Cup are really important tournaments ahead,” he stated. “Right now, I just want to go back home, rest, and prepare myself. I’ll work to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Interestingly, the Paris Masters has not been kind to Alcaraz so far in his young career. The Spaniard admitted he struggles to explain why results haven’t gone his way in the French capital. “I came here feeling really well, with a lot of energy, thinking I could get a good result,” he said. “This year I felt better than ever at the end of the season — I skipped Shanghai, stayed home, recharged my batteries. So I don’t know what happened here.”

Despite the disappointment, Alcaraz remains optimistic. “It’s a tournament that’s really difficult for me to play well at, but I’ll figure it out,” he added. “One day I’ll end up playing great tennis here, for sure.”

Alcaraz will now have a short break before heading to Turin, where he will compete among the world’s top eight players. With two major titles, three Masters 1000s, and a 90.5% win rate this year, the Spaniard’s 2025 season remains a testament to his consistency and elite mentality — even on off days.