‘Biggest win of my career’ – Norrie delight after beating Alcaraz
Video credit: SNTV
Cameron Norrie hailed his shock victory over Carlos Alcaraz at the Rolex Paris Masters as “the biggest win” of his career.
Norrie came back from a set down to stun the world No. 1 with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory at La Defense Arena in a gruelling match that lasted almost two and a half hours.
It is the first time in Norrie’s career that he has beaten a world No. 1 and just the seventh time he has beaten a top five player.
Alcaraz was far from his characteristic best and made as many as 54 unforced errors as he surrendered a one-set lead to his 30-year-old opponent.
For Norrie, though, it was an outstanding win, and a great showing of his resilience, having battled with an ankle injury in recent weeks.
“This is massive, so big for me. I have been coming back with my injury,” he told Sky Sports.
Highlights: Norrie stuns Alcaraz in Paris
Video credit: SNTV
“Last year I lost in the first round of qualifiers, so I just tried to enjoy my tennis the second half of the year, and I was able to do that and to get a win like this.
“It is the biggest win of my career and my first win over a world No. 1 and probably the most confident player in the world right now.
“I was just so pleased with the way I did it, having a lot of chances and having to keep pushing and keep going for more and I was able to stay tough and get the win, so I am really pleased.”
Norrie had pushed Alcaraz in the first set but ultimately succumbed to the Spaniard, and it appeared as though the reigning French and US Open champion would find his groove and pull away.
The match went anything but that way, as errors began to mount for Alcaraz, who could be seen and heard getting frustrated.
Norrie was then serving for the match, a position of immense pressure at the best of times, but especially when given the rare opportunity of beating Alcaraz.
“I played a really, really good first set. I felt it was quite close. He just took his chance and I didn’t, and I just wanted to keep pushing and, honestly, it was just such a physical match,” said Norrie.
“I just wanted to keep pushing him and keep pushing him, and I saw him talking to his team a lot, so it gave me some confidence.
“That 4-3 game [in the third set] was crucial. I saved a couple of break points there, and then, when I went to serve for the match, I actually went for a walk with my coach this morning and we talked through serving for a match and what you need to tell yourself or what I need to tell myself when serving for a match.
“I just told myself I deserve to be in this moment. I want to be here and I felt quite relaxed with that, so it was a nice walk this morning, a very important walk.”
It was the first time that Alcaraz has lost to a left-handed player since he was beaten by fellow Brit Jack Draper at Indian Wells in May.
Norrie will now face the winner of the match between Valentin Vacherot and cousin Arthur Rinderknech.
The pair squared off in the Shanghai Masters final after Vacherot, then world No. 204, stunned Novak Djokovic in the semi-final.Watch and stream top tennis action, including the 2026 Australian Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+