‘No-feeling’ Carlos Alcaraz eliminated from Paris Masters
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PARIS – World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz said he had “no feeling at all” for the ball after he was beaten 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in his opening match at the Paris Masters on Oct 28 by 31st-ranked Briton Cameron Norrie.
The six-time Grand Slam champion has failed to win the Paris Masters in five attempts and now faces losing his place atop the rankings should rival Jannik Sinner win the tournament.
Before Alcaraz’s shock exit, the Italian had said: “It’s impossible (to finish the year at No. 1). Honestly, I’m not thinking about this at the moment. It’s going to be a goal for next year.”
After three weeks out of official competition due to an ankle injury which forced him to skip the Shanghai Masters, Alcaraz said he had come into the event in Paris in fine fettle.
“I had a lot of practices here, which I was feeling great, feeling amazing, moving on the court, hitting the ball,” the 22-year-old said.
“But today, even in the first set that I won, I just felt like I could do much more than what I did. I tried in the second set just to be better, but it was totally the opposite. I just felt even worse.”
Just like during his Roland Garros success earlier in the season, Alcaraz hit a serious mid-match slump, but on this occasion he was unable to dig himself out of a hole in the French capital.
“I didn’t feel well today. A lot of mistakes... I had no feeling at all,” he said. “I’m really disappointed about my level today, and it is what it is.”
The Spaniard, however, did praise his opponent for capitalising on his mistakes.
“I have to give credit to Cam, as well, because I think he didn’t let me stay or come back to the match,” Alcaraz said. “Norrie played really great tennis.”
The mercurial Norrie rose to the occasion on the 16,500-capacity centre court at the La Defense Arena.
“Such a special win to beat probably the most confident player in the world right now,” former world No. 8 Norrie said.
“I told myself before the match, even if I get in a winning scenario, I’m not going to be afraid to win. I stayed true to that.”
Norrie will next face Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, who again downed his cousin Arthur Rinderknech of France, this time 6-7 (9-11), 6-3, 6-4, in a repeat of the Shanghai Masters final on Oct 29.
Eighth seed Casper Ruud joined Alcaraz on the scrap heap on Oct 29, after the Danish world No. 9 lost to Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 7-5.
The German will next face world No. 10 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, who beat home hope Alexandre Muller 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4).
Defending champion and world No. 3 Alexander Zverev was given a scare before eventually beating Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 7-5.
The German’s reward is a tie against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or France’s Arthur Cazaux. Their last-32 clash ended after press time.
Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina also needed three sets to see off Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4).
He will face the winner of the second-round clash between world No. 2 Sinner of Italy and Belgian Zizou Bergs, which ended after press time.
Russian world No. 13 Daniil Medvedev advanced after Grigor Dimitrov pulled out. The Bulgarian had been set to play just his second singles match since retiring during a last-16 tie against Sinner at Wimbledon in July.
Medvedev will next face either Lorenzo Sonego or Lorenzo Musetti, the all-Italian clash ending after press time. AFP, REUTERS
