Media365
In a stunning upset at the Paris Masters on Tuesday, World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz lost to unseeded Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The defeat opens the door for second-ranked Jannik Sinner to claim the top spot. The defeat to Norrie ended Alcaraz’s impressive 17-match winning streak in Masters 1000 events.Alcaraz struggled throughout the match, making 54 unforced errors and winning only 64% of his first-serve points. The Spanish star’s frustration was visible as he had an animated discussion with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after dropping the second set.“I’m really disappointed about my level,” Alcaraz admitted after the match. “I didn’t feel well today. A lot of mistakes.”For Norrie, the victory marked his first career win against a top-ranked player. He sealed the match on his second match point when Alcaraz returned his powerful first serve long. This was their first indoor meeting, with Norrie now leading their head-to-head record 3-5.The loss comes as a surprise given Alcaraz’s impressive 2025 season, during which he claimed eight titles, including three Masters tournaments and two Grand Slams – the French Open and US Open.
How Jannik Sinner can reclaim the World No. 1 rankingSinner now has a clear path to the number one ranking. He needs to win the Paris Masters to overtake Alcaraz’s 11,250 points. Currently at 10,510 points, Sinner will gain points with each win – reaching 11,500 if he claims the title.The Italian star enters the tournament in good form, riding a 21-match winning streak on indoor hard courts. His last indoor defeat came against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 ATP Finals final. However, his past performance at the Paris Masters has been modest, with just one match win in three previous appearances.The battle for the top spot will continue beyond Paris, with both players facing different challenges at the upcoming ATP Finals, where Sinner defends 1,500 points compared to Alcaraz’s 200 points.
