💥 Read this must-read post from BBC Sport 📖
📂 Category:
✅ Main takeaway:
British Cameron Norrie described his surprise over Carlos Alcaraz as “the biggest win in my career” after reaching the round of sixteen in the Paris Masters Championship after a strong comeback against the world number one.
Norrie, who lost in straight sets to the Spaniard in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon this year, won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the Masters 1000 tournament in the French capital.
“This win is very big for me,” said Nouri, who missed the Paris Olympics and the US Open last year due to a forearm injury.
“I lost the first round of qualifying here last year. After coming back from injury, I was trying to enjoy playing tennis in the second half of the year and I managed to do that.
“To get the biggest win of my career, my first win against the world number one, and probably the most confident player in the world right now, I’m happy with the way I did it.”
Alcaraz won the first set before Nouri responded strongly in the second set by breaking his serve early and maintaining his momentum to determine the deciding set.
The world number 31 then played a stunning backhand pass to break Alcaraz’s serve in the final set, saving two break points en route to victory.
“I went for a walk this morning with my coach and we talked about our serve for the match and what I should tell myself,” said Nouri, who beat Sebastian Baez in straight sets in the first round on Monday.
“My serve was very tight in yesterday’s match against Baez.
“I told myself I deserve to be in this moment, I want to be here, and I felt completely comfortable.
“It was a beautiful outing, and a very important outing.”
The Briton will then face the winner of the second-round match between wildcards – and cousins - Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderkneich.
Alcaraz, who committed 54 unforced errors on Tuesday, was returning from an ankle injury and playing his first match in the tournament since his victory over Taylor Fritz in the Japan Open final at the end of September.
He now risks losing his first ranking if his rival Jannik Sinner, who will face Belgian Zizo Berges in the second, continues to win the Paris tournament.
“I’m really disappointed about my level,” Alcaraz said after the defeat.
“I had all the ideas clear, all the goals were clear, but even in the first set that I won, I felt like I could do much more than I already did.
“I have to give credit to Cam. He played really well, had a solid game, and I think that’s the key.”
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