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Carlos Alcaraz joins Pete Sampras and Roger Federer with Paris Masters defeat to Cameron Norrie

Originally posted on HITC | By Max Kilham | Last updated Oct 30, 2025 12:05 PM ET

Cameron Norrie pulled off one of the biggest upsets of 2025, knocking out world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the Paris Masters.

Alcaraz looked well below his best, piling up 54 unforced errors over the match. Norrie took full advantage, coming back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at Paris La Défense Arena.

Norrie moves on to face Shanghai Masters champion Valentin Vacherot in the third round, while Alcaraz is left to reflect on another missed opportunity in Paris.

Alcaraz has never won the Paris Masters and hasn’t advanced past the third round since his quarter-final run in 2022 when he lost to eventual champion Holger Rune.

Carlos Alcaraz joins rare list after Paris Masters defeat

According to OptaAce, Alcaraz became just the third top seed to lose his first match at the event since the ATP 1000 format began in 1990. The others were Pete Sampras in 1996 and Roger Federer in 2009.

Sampras, who had a bye in the first round, was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Marc Rosset of Switzerland. Rosset then made it to the quarter-finals before losing to Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup

The title that year went to another Swede, Thomas Enqvist, who beat former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov in straight sets: 6-2, 6-4, 7-5.

In Federer’s case, he fell to Julien Benneteau of France in a three-set battle: 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. Benneteau was knocked out in the next round by Gael Monfils, who ended up reaching the final.

Monfils lost that final to Novak Djokovic. Reflecting on his win at the time, Djokovic said it felt like a “big relief.”

Could there be a bright side?

Interestingly, Alcaraz might find some comfort in the history surrounding his loss in Paris.

As mentioned earlier, he became the third top seed to lose his opening match at the Paris Masters, following Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.

Bastien Fachan pointed out that both Sampras and Federer went on to win the Australian Open the year after their Paris defeats.

Sampras claimed his second Australian Open title in 1997, having previously won it in 1994. Along the way, he beat Mark Woodforde, Thomas Muster and Carlos Moya.

Federer secured his fourth Australian Open crown in 2010 with a victory over Andy Murray in the final.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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